The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Individually-Owned Businesses in China ()
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 has emerged as a public health crisis with
far-reaching implications, impacting not only physical
well-being but also precipitating severe mental health challenges. Compared to
other occupations, individually-owned
businesses in China lack adequate external security measures. However, the
mental health challenges they face during this epidemic have not been
thoroughly examined. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the mental
health of individually-owned businesses in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: Employing a qualitative research design, 26 individual businesses were selected
for semi-structured interviews to investigate their mental health status amidst
the pandemic. Results: The results indicated that individually-owned
businesses reported experiencing a range of perceived psychological feelings
such as helplessness, complaint, fear, and anxiety. Additionally, it was
revealed that these businesses relied on social support that included physical,
emotional, and informational support to alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic.
Self-regulation was also identified as a useful strategy for coping with the
challenges faced by these businesses. Conclusion: The mental health of
individually-owned businesses in China needs to be concerned, and relevant
psychological improvement intervention programs can be formulated from the
perspective of social support and self-regulation.
Share and Cite:
Wang, Z. , Mei, F. , Yu, P. and Wang, C. (2023) The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Individually-Owned Businesses in China.
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
11, 57-73. doi:
10.4236/jss.2023.119005.
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