An Examination of the Effect of Exercise on Stress and Satisfaction for Entrepreneurs

Abstract

In today’s society, health and fitness are given much publicity. Advertisements, magazine articles, and television shows trumpet the benefits of exercise and encourage people to undertake a fitness regimen. Indeed, it would make sense that an exercise program may lead to a less stressful and more productive life for the entrepreneur. However, busy schedules and the challenge of maintaining a fitness regimen lead many people to quit these programs soon after starting them and to return to their more sedentary lifestyles. This paper empirically examines whether spending time away from the business exercising is time well spent. To address this issue, we conducted a study of 472 small business owners and tested hypotheses on the role of exercise on stress and job satisfaction.