Covid-19 impacts on entrepreneurs' mental health in Africa

SMEs are the driving force behind every country's economic activity. The proper functioning and performance of SMEs depends on the mental and physical capacities of their promoters, the entrepreneurs. The emergence of the Covid-19 as sudden as it was unforeseen has challenged the normal functioning of most economies around the world. This unprecedented context has affected various spheres of economic life and on individuals. In this study, we focus on the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of entrepreneurs in Africa. We collected data from 158 entrepreneurs from various parts of Africa at the beginning of the pandemic. The analyses show that several of them experienced various symptoms of psychological distress because of the consequences of the pandemic on their businesses and, we observed differences among entrepreneurs. Personal characteristics and resources (age, experience) and enterprise characteristics contribute to the contrasting picture of psychological distress among entrepreneurs in Africa.