Being Pushed or Pulled? The Role of (In)voluntariness of Solo Self-Employed Individuals’ Career Path in Self-Fulfillment or Precariousness

Maria Undine Kottwitz (), Nathalie Daibel and Kathleen Otto
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Maria Undine Kottwitz: Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Nathalie Daibel: Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
Kathleen Otto: Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-27

Abstract: The rise of solo self-employment in Germany calls for an examination of its consequences for well-being and psychological factors. This study examines the role of voluntariness in self-employment with the aim of shedding light on its influence on self-fulfillment and precariousness amidst the diverse research findings. Using a quota sampling strategy based on a preliminary typology of the solo self-employed derived from a large-scale survey, we analyzed 29 small business owners. The thematic analysis revealed nuanced patterns that led to a model that illustrated the interaction among voluntarism, insecurity, and self-fulfillment. A high degree of insecurity often forces the individual to be independent and stands in contrast to the pull of self-actualization. Partial voluntariness increases the opportunities for self-fulfillment. This study also identified the influence of the scope of action factors and social support. These results provide a basis for future quantitative research and enable the formulation of concrete hypotheses. By emphasizing the central role of voluntariness, the study argues for tailored interventions such as career counseling to support individuals who are coerced into entrepreneurship. Such efforts aim to cultivate healthier, sustainable pathways to self-employment that benefit individuals and society.

Keywords: solo self-employment; thematic analysis; voluntariness; job satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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