Entrepreneurship linked to longer life in new study
Entrepreneurs may live longer: Autonomy and passion make the difference
A new study published in the Journal of Business on October 22 suggests that entrepreneurship can contribute to a longer life. The research was conducted by a team at the School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, led by associate professor Cristiano Bellavitis and his colleagues. The analysis was based on 20 years of data collected from 27,501 American citizens over the age of 50. The results show that people who work for themselves have a 10% lower risk of premature death compared to those who worked for others their whole lives. This difference remained even after the researchers controlled for variables such as age, income, wealth, and education level.
Freedom over stress: The hidden benefit of autonomy
Contrary to the common perception that associates entrepreneurship with stress and long working hours, this study highlights a less visible aspect: the freedom of action. Although other research has linked excessive working hours to an increased risk of heart diseases, such as vascular accidents, psychological factors like the feeling of freedom appear to counterbalance these negative effects. Bellavitis explained in a press release that, although entrepreneurship can be extremely stressful, it offers a high degree of autonomy and the chance to pursue something the person is genuinely passionate about. These benefits seem to leave a lasting mark on health.
Context matters: Passion vs. Necessity
A key point of the research is that being an entrepreneur is not enough; the context in which you enter this path matters. The greatest longevity benefit was observed when autonomy was at its maximum. Specifically, when people started businesses out of desire rather than necessity, a longer life span was observed. Thus, regardless of your profession or whether you work for yourself or for others, choice and freedom appear to be decisive factors.
Beyond longevity: Mental health benefits
Beyond longevity, the study also identified other significant benefits. Entrepreneurs reported lower levels of both depression and loneliness. These two mental health factors contribute not only to better overall health but also to a greater sense of happiness. Therefore, entrepreneurship, at least when practiced out of passion and purpose rather than need, may be the key not only to a longer life but also to a happier one.