Title: Generational differences in self-employment: work characteristics, health, work-family, and satisfaction

Authors: Nicholas J. Beutell; Jeffrey W. Alstete; Joy A. Schneer; Marianne M. O'Hare

Addresses: Department of Management, LaPenta School of Business, Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801-1890, USA ' Department of Management, LaPenta School of Business, Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801-1890, USA ' College of Business Administration, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA ' Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy, College of Education and Human Services, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA

Abstract: This paper examines self-employment by generational cohort (millennials, generation X, baby boomers, and matures) in relation to work variables, health variables, work-family variables, and life and job satisfaction. The analyses used data from a national probability sample (n = 738 self-employed), the National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW). Significant differences were found between generational groups of self-employed for most of the major study variables (e.g., hours worked, job pressure, work-family conflict). We also found that the study variables (e.g., autonomy, turnover intentions) predicted job satisfaction in self-employment. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: generations; self-employment; autonomy; health; satisfaction; turnover intentions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.115879

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.43 No.3, pp.363 - 383

Received: 08 Jan 2018
Accepted: 24 Jan 2019
Published online: 05 Jul 2021 *

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