Résumé
This longitudinal study explored links between workplace loneliness, health, sleep, working hours, and burnout among 349 small business owners in construction/public works, using four waves of telephone data (2015-2016). A fixed-effects panel regression assessed within-person changes over time.
Workplace loneliness was positively associated with burnout (β = 0.28, p < .001), while mental health (β = -0.27, p < .001) and sleep duration (β = -0.17, p = .018) were negatively associated. Physical health and working hours showed no significant effects. Additional analyses revealed stronger associations between loneliness, mental health, and burnout in SMEs compared to microenterprises, where sleep had a modest protective effect. These results underscore the need to address loneliness, support mental health, and promote sleep to reduce burnout in small business owners. Interventions should be adapted to the distinct needs of microenterprises and SMEs.