Gesundheitsrisiken bei Unternehmern

Work-related stressors and coping behaviors among leaders in small and medium-sized IT and technological services enterprises

BACKGROUND

Occupational health interventions for leaders are underrepresented in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). When creating and developing effective occupational health interventions, identification of the specific needs of the target group is regarded as an essential step before planning an intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study was (1) to examine the subjectively experienced work-related stressors of leaders in small and medium-sized IT and technological services enterprises, (2) to explore coping behaviors leaders use to deal with the experienced work-related stressors, (3) to investigate resources supporting the coping process and (4) to identify potentially self-perceived consequences resulting from the experienced stressors.

METHODS

Ten semi-structured interviews with leaders in small and medium-sized IT and technological services enterprises were conducted. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed with content-structuring qualitative content analysis in accordance to Kuckartz.

RESULTS

Leaders in small and medium-sized IT and technological services enterprises experience various stressors caused by work organization as well as industry-related stressors and other work-related stressors. To address the experienced stressors, leaders apply problem focused coping behaviors (e.g. performing changes on structural and personal level), emotional focused coping behaviors (e.g. balancing activities, cognitive restructuring) as well as the utilization of social support. Helpful resources for the coping process include organizational, social and personal resources. As a result of the experienced work-related stressors, interviewees stated to experience different health impairments, negative effects on work quality as well as neglect of leisure activities and lack of time for family and friends.

CONCLUSION

The identified experienced work-related stressors, applied coping behaviors, utilized resources and emerging consequences underpin the urgent need for the development and performance of health-oriented leadership interventions for leaders in small and medium- sized IT and technological services. The results of this study can be used when designing a target-oriented intervention for the examined target group.

Job demands and resources of managing directors of micro- and small enterprises: A qualitative study of the German transport industry

BACKGROUND: In many European countries, entrepreneurs have to consider psychosocial factors in the workplace risk assessment. Little is known about psychosocial working conditions in micro- and small companies. Even less is known about the entrepreneur in these settings. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to develop and examine the job demands and resources of small business owners and managers, who serve as important designers of their businesses’ working characteristics. METHODS: N = 29 semi-structured interviews with a unique sample of owners and managers of the transportation sector were analysed via qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The data suggest the presence of specific demands (time-, management-, and organisational demands) and resources (support and feedback). In particular, the variability and load of the demands indicate that the existing theoretical framework for employees is inadequate for evaluating the working characteristics of micro- and small business managers. CONCLUSION: Occupational health activities in small companies should include the working situation of the entrepreneur/manager.

A Scientometric Systematic Review of Entrepreneurial Wellbeing Knowledge Production

This article presents a scientometric study regarding entrepreneurship and its relationship with wellbeing. The study presents a systematic review and measures impact and relational character to identify the relevance of countries, research organizations, and authors in the field of entrepreneurial wellbeing. The study poses the following research questions: What is the nature of the evolution of scientific knowledge in the entrepreneurial wellbeing field? What is the nature of the concentration in terms of geographical distribution and co-authorship level of knowledge production in the entrepreneurial wellbeing field? What are the knowledge trends in knowledge production for entrepreneurial wellbeing literature? The contribution of this research is two-fold. First, in terms of methodology, it contributes study into the use of a more robust approach to search for the scientometric trends about entrepreneurship wellbeing in addition to the PRISMA review tools and the PICOS eligibility criteria. Secondly, the study presents research updates in the search for results for the last 2 years of knowledge production. This upgrade is particularly important in a research field that presents exponential growth, where 2019 and 2020 presented almost double the amount of knowledge production compared to 2017 and 2018.

Work-Related Psychosocial Stress in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: An Integrative Review

Background: Work-related psychosocial stress can cause mental and physical illnesses resulting in high costs for the individual, the economy and society. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ the majority of the world’s workforce and often have fewer financial and human resources compared to larger businesses. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on work-related stress in SMEs according to well-established guidelines categorizing psychosocial factors at work. Methods: A systematic database search was carried out in PubMed, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX and Business Source Premiere from March to June 2019, updated in January 2020. Data of included studies were analyzed and mapped into five themes: “work content and task”, “organization of work”, “social relations”, “working environment” and “new forms of work”. Results: After full-text screening, 45 out of 116 studies were included for data extraction. Studies were very heterogeneous and of varying quality, mostly applying a cross-sectional study design. Psychosocial factors in SMEs have been researched with a focus on the work patterns “work organization” and “work content and task”. Conclusions: This review underlines the need for more and better quality research of psychosocial factors in SMEs, particularly in relation to ongoing and new challenges in the workplace, including stressors related to the process of digitalization or the development of safe working conditions during the emerge of new infectious diseases.

Arbeits- und organisationspsychologische Forschung und betriebliche Praxis – zwei ferne Königskinder?

Der Wissenstransfer zwischen der arbeits- und organisationspsychologischen Forschung und der betrieblichen Praxis ist ein zentrales Anliegen der Zeitschriften für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie sowie für Personalpsychologie. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet die in den Jahren 2007 und 2008 in diesen Zeitschriften erschienenen Forschungsbeiträge auf ihre praktische Relevanz und unternimmt dabei eine Aktualisierung und Erweiterung der Studie von Deller und Albrecht (2007) . Als Kriterien für Praxisrelevanz wurden Zeitnähe der Veröffentlichung, praktische Implikationen, Organisationszugehörigkeit der Autoren, Herkunft der Forschungsfrage, Anwendungsbezug sowie – über Deller und Albrecht (2007) hinausgehend – die Art der Studie, die Art und Aktualität des Themas, die Struktur der Artikel (Anteile von Einleitungs- und Diskussionsteil) und eine differenzierte quantitative Textanalyse im Hinblick auf Praxisbezug herangezogen. Resümierend lässt sich eine erfreuliche Entwicklung hin zu verstärkter Praxisrelevanz der veröffentlichten Beiträge beobachten, sowohl wenn man die Kriterien von Deller und Albrecht (2007) als auch die erweiterten Kriterien zugrunde legt.