Stress and coping among micro-entrepreneurs of peer-to-peer accommodation. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Xueyan (Even); Huang, Dan; Chen, Qiurong
• Is Part Of: International journal of hospitality management. Volume 97(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Peer-to-peer accommodation -- Micro-entrepreneurs -- Well-being -- Pandemic -- Stress -- Coping strategies; Hotel management -- Periodicals; Restaurant management -- Periodicals; Food service management -- Periodicals; Hôtels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Restaurants -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Services alimentaires -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Food service management; Hotel management; Restaurant management; Periodicals; 647.94
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.103009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4319

Abstract

Abstract: Micro-entrepreneurs (hosts) of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation are receiving an increasing amount of research attention; meanwhile little is known about their health and well-being. To maintain their well-being, this study aims to explore their stress and coping strategies after the outbreak of COVID-19. A qualitative approach was undertaken, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 21 hosts. Qualitative content analysis was applied to analyse the data. The findings revealed four stressors that caused the hosts' stress: economic stressors, uncertainty, operation-related stressors and social stressors. They used 12 different strategies to cope with their stress, which were further grouped into problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping strategies. This study suggests that micro-entrepreneurs of P2P accommodation use multiple coping strategies to deal with a stressful situation in naturalistic settings. Coping strategies were discussed regarding their helpfulness for hosts to maintain wellbeing by comparing the findings with psychology literature. Highlights: Economic stressors and uncertainty were the two main causes of hosts' stress. Most hosts used more than one coping strategies throughout the stressful encounter. This study supports the two-dimensional view of coping strategies. Helpfulness of coping strategies was discussed.