Self-employed workers with chronic health conditions: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Chronic health conditions impact working-age individuals, causing physical, psychological, and social difficulties.
• Limited work ability is a common consequence of chronic illness.
• Self-employed individuals face distinct challenges balancing business demands with health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of self-employed individuals with chronic health conditions.
• To understand the multifaceted effects of chronic illness on work and business sustainability.
• To identify coping strategies and challenges faced by this population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing in-depth, semi-structured interviews.
• Conducted with 23 self-employed individuals managing conditions like cancer, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lung disease, or asthma.
• Thematic analysis used to interpret interview data.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: work planning uncertainty, acceptance/denial of reduced abilities, health status disclosure, and use of temporal substitutes.
• Self-employed workers experience significant challenges sustaining their businesses while managing chronic illness.
• Sole responsibility for business operations exacerbates the impact of chronic health conditions.

Conclusions:

• Self-employed individuals with chronic conditions require tailored support systems.
• Understanding these unique challenges is crucial for developing effective workplace interventions.
• Further research should explore strategies for enhancing resilience and support for this demographic.