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Self-Employment Linked to 24% Higher Stress Levels

2/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A study published in the Journal of Business Venturing finds self-employment is linked to higher stress than traditional employment.
Researchers analyzed identical twins from Finland and the United States and reported that self-employed twins experienced 24% more stress and had 53% higher evening cortisol levels.
Long working hours significantly contribute to this stress, outweighing any benefits from job variety.

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Story summary

A study published in the Journal of Business Venturing finds self-employment is linked to higher stress than traditional employment.
Researchers analyzed identical twins from Finland and the United States and reported that self-employed twins experienced 24% more stress and had 53% higher evening cortisol levels.
Long working hours significantly contribute to this stress, outweighing any benefits from job variety.