An Exploratory Study on Stress Coping of Small Business Owners: Focus on Korean Retail Distributors

• Published in: Journal of distribution science Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 73 - 84
• Main Authors: Mikyoung KIM, Jaeseung MOON, Suyeong KIM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Distribution Science; Transactional Theory of Stress; Stress Coping; Retail Distributor; Franchise; Stressors
• ISSN: 1738-3110; 2093-7717

Purpose: This study aims to comprehensively analyze what small business owners experience in relation to stressors, consequences, coping methods, and situational factors. Research design, data and methodology: In this study, qualitative research methodology was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 15 small business owners who started franchise convenience stores, and classify stressors and consequences, coping methods, and situational factors based on the transactional theory of stress. Results: The results of this study are as follows. First, stressors were classified into challenge stressor and hindrance stressor. Second, stress coping methods were classified into problem-focused and emotion-focused coping methods. Among them, SBOs mainly used problem-focused coping methods. Third, consequences were classified into physiological, emotional, and behavioral tension. Lastly, the moderating factorsin the process of stress coping were resilience, social support, and positive traits. Conclusion: Theoretically, the stressors and coping methods that small business owners experience during the start-up process were confirmed from an integrated theoretical perspective. Practically, building trust relationships with SBOs and providing realistic job introductions are required at the head office level, and on the individual side, efforts are required to strike an appropriate balance between behavioral and emotional stress coping and to form a consensus with family members.