Approved research

Biology and the tendency to engage in entrepreneurship

Lay summary

In recent years, researchers have begun to uncover various health and biological consequences of business activities. For instance, researchers have shown that shift work induces elevated levels of cortisol and increased risk of chronic diseases (Manenschijn et al., 2011, Ha and Park, 2005, Karlson et al., 2006, Touitou et al., 1990). Despite the various studies that have suggested that entrepreneurship is favourable for countries' economies (Obschonka et al., 2014, Wolfe and Patel, 2017a), entrepreneurship can also have impact on individuals' health. For example, studies have found a positive association between entrepreneurship and anxiety and depression (Hessels et al., 2018). Accordingly, further studies that look 'at physiological reactions to work environments and organizational reward mechanisms' are needed (Shane, 2009, p.69). This would provide insights into how work environment can be adapted to minimise any adverse effects on individuals' health and allow people to adjust themselves to the work environments that suits their mental and physical well-being. As part of the project, we also seek to examine the genetic underpinnings and the neural correlates of entrepreneurship to have a better understanding of the mechanisms relating entrepreneurship to individuals' health and well-being. This research should take from one year to two years.