The Positive Mental Health Effects of Self-Employment

A recent academic study found that self-employed gig workers in the UK score higher across a range of psychological well-being measures than workers in the mainstream economy.

The study - The Effects of Self and Temporary Employment on Mental Health: The Role of the Gig Economy in the UK - found that gig workers are about 33 percent more likely to self-report positive traits in terms of mental health than those in traditional jobs.

The reason will come as no surprise to regular readers.

It's the autonomy, control and flexibility provided by gig work. 

Key quote from The Mental Health Benefits of Self-Employment, an article written by the study's researchers: 

Our preliminary conclusions point to the importance of autonomy in the workplace. The gig economy offers workers the opportunity for more control in their jobs, which may lead to more self-worth, more confidence and less strain...

For employees in the mainstream economy, heavy job requirements plus low autonomy equals a scenario with high occupational stress. 

We've long reported that work flexibility, autonomy and control lead to high levels of satisfaction among the self-employed.  Key quote from our 2013 article on this topic:

... those who create, manage and control their own work assignments, workplace and schedules reported very high levels of satisfaction (86% satisfied or highly satisfied)  ... few (less than 5%) would prefer having a traditional and almost all plan to continue as independent workers.

So it makes sense there are also mental health benefits.

Obviously, not all gig workers have work autonomy, control and flexibility. Those that don't are much less positive about gig work. Again from our 2013 article on those who report they don't have autonomy, control and flexibility:

"They are much less satisfied with independent work and almost half (49%) report being dissatisfied. Most (54%) would prefer having a traditional job and only about one third (35%) plan on continuing as an independent worker."

They also likely don't get the mental health benefits associated with work autonomy.  

But the majority of the self-employed - including those who get work through online platforms - report they have and value the autonomy, control and flexible this type of work provides.

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