Why some entrepreneurs are happier than others – and it’s not because of money

King's College London

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Entrepreneurs driven by independence and creativity are far more likely to feel satisfied with their lives than those motivated by status or money, according to new research from King’s Business School, King’s College London.

The study, published in the Journal of Business Venturing, examined responses from more than 3,000 entrepreneurs across 143 regions in 18 European countries. It found that the values drawing people into entrepreneurship – not just the pressures of running a business – strongly shape their wellbeing.

The research also shows that entrepreneurs feel better when their values align with the norms of their local business environment – especially in regions that support self-direction, or place greater emphasis on fairness and equal treatment. By comparison, areas that rewarded status did little to protect highly competitive or status-driven entrepreneurs from poorer wellbeing.

Some of the most supportive regions were found in specified parts of Germany, Italy, Spain and Cyprus, showing that local culture can vary significantly even within national borders.

“Entrepreneurial values act as a double-edged sword for wellbeing,” said Pierre-Jean Hanard, lead author of the study and PhD researcher at King’s Business School. “Values linked to independence and creativity are beneficial, while values linked to status and external rewards come at a personal cost.”

While entrepreneurship is often promoted as a path to freedom and self-expression, the researchers say the motivations behind that choice can boost or undermine founders’ mental health. Entrepreneurs who prioritise openness to change – valuing independence, creativity and novelty – reported higher life satisfaction and lower psychological distress.

But those motivated mainly by financial success, status or achievement experienced lower life satisfaction, weaker work engagement and greater distress.

Co-author Professor Ute Stephan, Professor of Entrepreneurship at King’s Business School, said: “Entrepreneurship allows people to express what they care about, yet some of these core motivations can be draining. It’s important for entrepreneurs to know that what draws them into entrepreneurship may also push them towards burnout.”

Professor Uta Bindl, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at King’s Business School and also a co-author, added: “When personal and cultural values align, wellbeing improves. When they conflict, entrepreneurs face greater emotional strain.”

The authors say the findings should encourage policymakers, local enterprise bodies and investors to look more closely at regional entrepreneurial cultures, and for founders to consider not just what they want to build, but where they choose to build it.

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Journal

Journal of Business Venturing

DOI

10.1016/j.jbusvent.2025.106554 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Do entrepreneurs' values make them “happy”? The role of personal and cultural values for entrepreneurs' wellbeing

Article Publication Date

1-Jan-2026

 

New sensor to detect scopolamine

A new sensor designed by the UPV can quickly and easily detect the presence of scopolamine, a drug widely used in chemical submission crimes

Universitat Politècnica de València

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image: 

A new sensor designed by the UPV can quickly and easily detect the presence of scopolamine, a drug widely used in chemical submission crimes view more

Credit: UPV

A team from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has led the development of a new sensor capable of quickly and easily detecting scopolamine, one of the substances most commonly used in crimes of chemical submission, especially in sexual assaults. The sensor detects the presence of this drug in less than five minutes with high sensitivity. Its results are published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

'Scopolamine is a substance that is difficult to detect using conventional methods, especially when found in drinks. For this reason, our group from the IDM Institute at the UPV set out to develop new, simple tools that can immediately alert us to its presence,' says Vicente Martí Centelles, a researcher at the Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development (IDM) at the UPV.

If the drug is present, it generates an intense fluorescent light

According to Ramón Martínez Máñez, director of the IDM Institute, the sensor works in a very simple way. When the drug comes into contact with the sensor, a reaction occurs that releases a fluorescent substance. This release generates a very clear light signal, the intensity of which is proportional to the amount of scopolamine present.

'The more scopolamine there is, the more fluorescent the signal becomes, allowing not only its presence to be detected, but also its quantity to be estimated. And all this in less than five minutes. Furthermore, the system does not require complex equipment or highly specialised personnel, which facilitates its potential use in police, forensic or preventive control environments,' emphasises the UPV researcher.

A sophisticated chemical design that detects the slightest presence of drugs

The sensor developed by UPV researchers is based on a 'molecular cage', a chemical structure designed to recognise and trap specific molecules. In this case, the molecular cage has been designed to interact with and trap scopolamine in a highly selective manner.

One of the most innovative aspects of the system is the sophistication of its chemical design. The molecular cage adopts a unique arrangement that is key to the drug detection process, working with great precision. 'This is what allows our sensor to detect extremely low amounts of drugs and makes it particularly useful for the rapid analysis of suspected substances, both in preventive contexts and after a possible assault,' says Giovanni Montà-González.

'We are currently working on the development of a device that incorporates the sensor for the detection of scopolamine in various environments such as drinks, urine, saliva, etc.,' comment Eva Garrido and Estela Climent, co-authors of the paper.

The development also involved the CIBER for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), the UPV-CIPF Joint Research Unit on Mechanisms of Disease and Nanomedicine, and the UPV-IIS La Fe Joint Research Unit on Nanomedicine and Sensors, with the collaboration of Cristian Vicent from the central services of Scientific Instrumentation at the Universitat Jaume I.

The research team is already working on the development of similar sensors for detecting other illicit drugs.

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Journal

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI

10.1002/anie.202523575 

Article Title

Molecular Cages as Probes in Indicator Displacement Assays: The Case of Scopolamine Detection

 

Interpersonal and self-inflicted violence linked to temperature spikes

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

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Warming temperatures are connected to increases in violence-related hospital visits—including both interpersonal and self-inflicted violence—according to a new analysis of 14 years of Medicaid claims data. The study is led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The findings are published in the journal Communications Sustainability(link is external and opens in a new window).

The researchers analyzed 332,293 Medicaid claims for interpersonal and self-inflicted violence-related hospital visits in the United States. They compared daily hospital visits with local temperature patterns over the following six days. They found that as temperatures rose, violence-related hospital visits also increased, especially in the first two days after higher heat stress. A 5°C increase was associated with a 1.5 percent increase in interpersonal and a 3.7 percent increase in self-inflicted violence visits.

The new findings are in line with other research on the increase in violent deaths, including assaults and suicides, during warm months. Warmer temperatures and increased outdoor time correlate with more frequent face-to-face interactions, contributing to a rise in arguments, confrontations, and assaults. Higher temperatures also increase outbursts of temper and more negative reactions to others, particularly when there is access to firearms. Reduced quality and length of sleep from higher temperatures can also result in more irritable individuals during the daytime, particularly in low-income homes where air conditioning is less prevalent. Increased hospital visits and consumption of alcohol and drugs during higher temperatures may also influence violent behavior toward others and oneself. 

“Our results emphasize the importance of integrating mental health into climate change preparedness,” says the study’s first author, Robbie M. Parks, PhD, assistant professor of environmental health sciences. “For example, messaging about the risks of violence during warmer weather would be warranted.”

Low-income individuals who qualify for Medicaid are also likely to be most impacted by the heat due to a lack of home air conditioning. They also have limited access to regular preventative health care, including mental health care.

“Equitable distribution of home air conditioning, coupled with other investments in community-based programs and adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of higher temperatures, can help alleviate the vulnerabilities faced by these communities and foster a safer and more resilient society overall,” Parks adds.

Additional authors include Ilan Cerna-Turoff and Jutta Lindert at Columbia Mailman; Lauren Flynn, Zifan Gu, Danielle Braun, and Francesca Dominici at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; Cascade Tuholske at Montana State University, Bozeman; and Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou at the School of Public Health, Brown University.

Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health (grants ES033742, ES022631, ES030616, ES028805, ES028033, MD012769, AG066793, ES029950, AG060232, AG071024, ES028472, ES009089, AG093975). Funding was also provided by the Harvard Climate Change Solutions Fund.

The authors declare no competing interests.

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DOI

10.1038/s44458-025-00001-x 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Higher temperatures are associated with increased interpersonal and self-inflicted violence-related Medicaid hospital visits in the United States

Article Publication Date

8-Jan-2026

 

Juggling two worlds: caregivers of leukemia patients struggle to balance care & daily life

New study reveals the emotional, physical, and financial toll on family caregivers and calls for caregiver support as standard cancer care

University of Toronto

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Caregivers of individuals diagnosed with acute leukemia face a difficult balancing act: meeting the urgent demands of cancer care while managing their daily responsibilities. A new qualitative study highlights the profound toll of this dual role and underscores the need for caregiver support as an essential part of cancer care.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the Hospital for Sick Children, the study analyzed in-depth interviews with 21 caregivers of both children and adults diagnosed with acute leukemia. Participants described the challenges of “juggling” caregiving tasks with work, parenting, household duties, and their own well-being. The findings reveal not only widespread emotional and physical strain, but the remarkable resilience among caregivers navigating this complex reality.

“Caregivers described living in two worlds, one dominated by the cancer experience and another defined by everything else in their lives,” said Maya A. Stern, MPH, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist at the Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, and recent graduate of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW). “Our findings show that this constant negotiation can lead to emotional exhaustion, financial hardship, and a sense of guilt for not being able to ‘do it all.’”

Co-author Elizaveta Klekovkina, MSW, RSW, Social Worker in Research at the Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, and recent graduate of FIFSW, emphasized that the study gives voice to the lived realities of a group whose needs are often overlooked. “We found that caregivers frequently de-prioritize their own well-being in order to care for the patient,” Klekovkina said. “Recognizing caregivers as essential members of the healthcare team means acknowledging their vulnerability and offering structured, proactive support: emotional, practical, and financial.”

The study also found that while family, friends, and other caregivers often provided valuable emotional and practical support, these networks were rarely enough to meet the demands of leukemia care. Stephanie M. Nanos, a PhD Student at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children, noted that “Social support can make a world of difference, but it must be complemented by formal systems of care. Friends and family may move forward with time, but the caregiver remains immersed in the cancer experience — and our systems must reflect that.”

Beyond documenting strain on caregivers, the study identified actionable recommendations. Caregivers suggested early access to psychosocial support, practical guidance about hospital and community resources, and financial aid programs to help offset lost income. Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD, Professor at FIFSW and Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, emphasized the broader policy implications. “Supporting caregivers is not just compassionate, it is a matter of public health. When caregivers are overwhelmed, patient outcomes also suffer.”

Senior author Carmine Malfitano, MSW, RSW, PhD, Director of Research and Education at the Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health and Clinical Social Work Specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, underscored the urgency of translating these insights into action. “Caregivers often become invisible within the healthcare system,” Malfitano said. “We need to integrate caregiver assessment and support as a standard part of cancer care, not as an optional add-on.”

The authors hope their findings will inform hospital programs and policymakers to better support those caring for family members with acute leukemia and other life-threatening illnesses. “By understanding what it truly means to ‘juggle two worlds,’” said Malfitano, “we can build systems that sustain both patients and the people who love and care for them.”

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Journal

Leukemia Research

DOI

10.1016/j.leukres.2025.108154 

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Juggling Two Worlds: Exploring the Experiences of Caregivers of Patients with Acute Leukemia

Article Publication Date

8-Jan-2026