title: Stress, satisfaction, and the work-family interface: a comparison of self-employed business owners, independents, and organizational employees.
abstract: Using data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW) (N = 3,504), we examined differences among organizational employment and two categories of self-employment: independent contractors and small business owners. Our results suggest that self-employment, either as owner or independent, may allow individuals to achieve greater autonomy than would be available to them as organizational employees. However, the greater pressure associated with ownership of a small business detracts from the advantages of having autonomy, making small business ownership a double-edged sword. Those working as independent contractors appear to reap the benefits of greater autonomy as well as lower levels of job pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Marketing, and Decision Sciences, School of Business, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 11530, USA. Prottas@adelphi.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Prottas
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009938:Organizations; D010067:Ownership; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*