Women entrepreneurs and anxiety: an empirical analysis in EU countries

Purpose Previous research has shown that entrepreneurship is an emotional journey that includes many moments of positive and negative well-being and female entrepreneurs, due to some individual and/or cultural differences and determinants, may be more likely than men to exhibit certain mental health problems. Design/methodology/approach Based on arguments from different theories framed in the labour and psychosocial field, this study aims to explore three sets of factors (job requirements, impact of work on personal life and work concerns) that can significantly condition the appearance of anxiety in female entrepreneurs. A sample of 2,696 self-employed women from all EU countries was taken from the European Working Conditions Survey 2021. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out. Findings The analysis applied to all EU countries reveals that (1) certain job demands (disturbing situations and tight deadlines and low need or frequency with which new things are learnt), (2) the way work impacts personal life (more obstacles to having free time and balancing personal and family life, low perceptions of competence and insufficient remuneration in accordance with the efforts made) and (3) work concerns (low professional opportunities, uncertainty about the profits and perceived risk about the survival of the business) translate into a greater propensity to suffer from anxiety. The analysis was also carried out by geographical region (northern, central and southern Europe), revealing notable differences. Originality/value This research has important practical implications for entrepreneurs and public authorities and contributes to the ongoing debate on the SDGs.