So much for the balance between work and personal life. Long hours and high-stress jobs harm our mental health, age us at a cellular level, and increase our risk of premature death. But a new study shows that a profession, which certainly doesn’t shy away from long hours and a lot of stress, could actually do the opposite: help people live longer lives. Jobs that require long hours and involve a lot of stress are generally associated with worse health outcomes. Azee/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com Research from Stevens Institute of Technology suggests that 31 million American entrepreneurs have a 10% lower risk of premature death compared to those who spend their careers working for others. “Most people think that entrepreneurship is extremely stressful, and it certainly can be,” said study author Cristiano Bellavitis. “But entrepreneurship also gives people a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to pursue something they really love or care about. Our findings suggest that those benefits can have lasting effects.” What the researchers found Bellavitis’ team analyzed more than 20 years of data from more than 27,000 Americans ages 50 and older. They found that those who started their own business had a 10% lower risk of premature death, even after taking into account factors such as age, income, education and wealth. People who launch their own business invest time and money with no guarantee of making a profit in the future. This involves an immense amount of stress, usually combined with long hours of work that they don’t know will pay off. However, Bellavitis says that the personal autonomy of entrepreneurship (the power to forge your own path) plus confidence in the business can offset the significant mental strain of stress and isolation. Compared to those who are self-employed, entrepreneurs reported lower levels of depression and loneliness. Lower rates of these mental health conditions are associated with better health outcomes and greater longevity. The researchers also found that the longevity advantage was strongest among opportunity-driven entrepreneurs: those who launched businesses to fill a gap in the market or pursue an innovation, rather than becoming entrepreneurs to survive financially. Those who started a business for reasons such as losing a job did not experience the same longevity benefits. “What seems to matter is not just entrepreneurship, but the circumstances under which people enter it,” Bellavitis said. “When entrepreneurship reflects greater options and opportunities, the autonomy and sense of purpose it can bring can provide psychological benefits that extend beyond financial rewards.” Despite taking significant risks, entrepreneurs feel more power over their life path. JenkoAtaman – stock.adobe.com Many entrepreneurs start several businesses. The more time people spent being entrepreneurs and the more frequently they started new businesses was associated with a longer lifespan. A key takeaway for non-entrepreneurs This doesn’t mean you should quit your job and start a business, Bellavitis says. This research can benefit more than just business owners. If autonomy, ownership, and a sense of purpose at work contribute to a happier, healthier life, employees can look for these qualities in their jobs and employers can do more to foster them. “Creating a more entrepreneurial workplace, where employees have the freedom to make decisions, pursue ideas, and see the results of their efforts, can help support engagement and well-being while avoiding some of the financial and personal risks associated with starting a business,” Bellavitis said. “In many ways, that could be the best of both worlds. Businesses can foster the independence, purpose and enthusiasm that often comes with entrepreneurship, while providing the stability of traditional employment.”
