Burnout Crisis Among Catalan Entrepreneurs
A survey of 962 business owners and self-employed individuals in Catalonia has found that 52% experience a high level of burnout or emotional exhaustion, according to research by the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, promoted by the Pimec Foundation. An additional 21% reported moderate levels of burnout, 23% mild levels, and only 4% showed no signs of emotional exhaustion, the foundation and Pimec Comerç said in a statement released on Friday 30 October 2026. The findings highlight the urgent need to address mental health among entrepreneurs 'beyond the individual sphere', the organisations stressed.
New Burnout Guide Launched
In response, the Pimec Foundation has launched a 'Burnout Guide' for business owners, developed in collaboration with the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, MGC Mútua, and the Fundación Salud y Persona. The guide aims to help detect and manage burnout among self-employed workers and small business leaders.
Stress Factors in Retail Sector
Pimec Foundation and Pimec Comerç also held a conference to raise awareness of burnout in the commerce sector. Key stressors identified include employee absenteeism, bureaucratic burden, and generational succession. The sector is dominated by micro-enterprises, family-run businesses, and self-employed individuals who take on multiple roles. Josep González, president of the Pimec Foundation, warned that when business owners reach their 'limit', both their mental health and their ability to sustain jobs and operations are compromised.
Unique Pressures of Entrepreneurship
Psychiatrist Benedikt Amann, a researcher at Hospital del Mar, noted that entrepreneurs face a distinct form of burnout due to financial investment in their businesses and blurred boundaries between personal and professional life. This 'double responsibility' creates sustained emotional strain, leading to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. A new scientific scale to assess burnout specifically in entrepreneurs, developed jointly by Pimec and Hospital del Mar, is set to be implemented in further studies.
The vast majority of Catalan companies are small and medium-sized, making this a critical issue for the regional economy.
Víctor Bottini of the Pimec Foundation added that the emotional toll stems from long hours, administrative difficulties, lack of support networks, and fear of failure, all compounded by poor work-life balance.
Sources: Europa Press, El Periódico, hospitaldelmar.cat.
