Job Stress and Quality of Working Life of Self-Employed Immigrants: A Study in Workforce Diversity

Abstract

This study examined the differences between self-employed and salaried employees among members of a visible minority in Canada and USA with regard to job stress and quality of working life (Q WL). Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire using the procedure of mail-back completed questionnaires (n = 325). One-way ANOVA, MANOVA and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The self-employed experienced higher job stress and health problems, and participated more actively in voluntary organizations, than salaried employees. The two groups did not differ in job satisfaction. Self-employed spent significantly less leisure time with their families than salaried employees. Limited support for age and education, as moderator of employment type and outcome variables, was found. Results are discussed in light of the previous empirical evidence on self-employment and quality of working life. SOMMAIRE Cette etude regarde les differences entre les travail/eurs autonomes et les employes salaries parmi les membres d'une minorite visible au Canada et aux Etats-Unisen ce qui a trait au stress au travail ainsi qu 'a Ia qualite de vie au travail (Q VT). Les donnees furent recueillies a partir d'un questionnaire structure en utilisant Ia procedure des questionnaires completes retournes par Ia paste (n = 325). ANOVA et MANOVA une direction et ANO VA deux directions furent utilises pour analyser les donnees. Les travailleurs autonomes ont manifeste un niveau de stress au travail plus eleve ainsi que des problemes de sante et ont participe plus activement dans des organisations benevoles que les employes salaries. Les deux groupes n 'ant pas montre de differences en ce qui a trait a Ia satisfaction au travail. Les travail/eurs autonomes passent significativement mains de temps de loisirs avec leur famille que les travailleurs salaries.

Role Demands, Difficulty in Managing Work-Family Conflict, and Minority Entrepreneurs

“…Whereas some of these work demands may be mitigated to the extent minorities are involved in home-based businesses, we do not expect this factor would substantially reduce work demands. Consistent with this reasoning, Jamal and Badawi (1995) found greater levels of stress among self-employed minorities. Taken together, these arguments suggest:…”

Negative Emotional Reactions to Project Failure and the Self‐Compassion to Learn from the Experience

“…Fourth, we examine the relationship between self‐compassion and learning from project failure as a complement to existing work on psychological well‐being and positive organizational psychology. The positive relationship between self‐esteem and psychological well‐being is important because diminished psychological well‐being has been associated with elevated health problems (Buttner, 1992; Ufuk and Özgen, 2001), psychological problems (Jamal, 1997; Jamal and Badawi, 1995) and work dissatisfaction (Buttner, 1992; Jamal, 1997). However, self‐regulation mechanisms for building and maintaining a high self‐esteem may not be an unambiguous blessing and have been associated with narcissism, self‐absorption and self‐centredness (Damon, 1995; Ryan and Deci, 2001; Seligman, 1995).…”

Birds of a feather don't always flock together: Identity management in entrepreneurship

“…For example, specific evidence suggests that entrepreneurs put personal and family relationships at risk (Kim et al, 1994;Redding, 1993;Ufuk and Ozgen, 2001), as well as experience feelings of isolation (Hannafey, 2003), loneliness (Akande, 1994;Gumpert and Boyd, 1984) and high levels of chronic stress (Akande, 1994;Boyd and Gumpert, 1983;Harris et al, 1999;Yusuf, 1995). Such feelings have been found to lead to elevated health problems (Buttner, 1992;Ufuk and Ozgen, 2001), psychological problems (Jamal and Badawi, 1995;Naughton, 1987;Eden, 1975), and work dissatisfaction (Buttner, 1992;c.f. Naughton, 1987).…”