Exploring the impact of entrepreneurship on emotional well-being and financial stress in individuals with down syndrome and their caregivers

The National Institutes of Health Office of the Director awarded Auburn University Montgomery $508,516 under the Trans-NIH Research Support program (CFDA 93.310) on September 1, 2026, to investigate how inclusive family entrepreneurship affects emotional well-being and financial stress in adults with Down syndrome and their caregivers.

The project will recruit 90 dyads—each consisting of an adult with Down syndrome and their primary caregiver—stratified into three employment-status groups: unemployed, employed in non-entrepreneurial work, and engaged in family-operated businesses. Quantitative data collection will measure emotional well-being, financial stress, and coping strategies across groups using regression models to test whether entrepreneurship buffers stress. Qualitative focus groups with entrepreneurial families will examine how families view their businesses, the challenges they face, and the benefits they experience. The mixed-method approach aims to develop a comprehensive picture of entrepreneurship as a financial and emotional support strategy for families affected by Down syndrome.

Auburn University Montgomery, a minority-serving institution, will employ at least eight paid undergraduate students annually in hands-on training across research design, data collection, analysis, and scientific writing. Students will co-author papers and present findings, building research capacity in the institution.

The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. Work is performed in Montgomery, Alabama.

Abstract

This project investigates how inclusive family entrepreneurship may reduce financial stress and enhance emotional well-being in adults with down syndrome (DS) and their caregivers. Adults with DS experience high unemployment and limited access to meaningful work. Some families turn to entrepreneurship, starting small businesses that include their child with DS, as a way to create customized, inclusive jobs. While this practice is growing, we know little about its true impact on well-being and economic burden. We will recruit 90 dyads, each made up of an adult with DS and their primary caregiver. Participants will be divided into three groups based on the employment status of the individual with DS: (1) unemployed, (2) employed in a non-entrepreneurial job, and (3) engaged in a business with their caregiver. Quantitative data will measure and compare emotional well-being, financial stress, and coping strategies across the three groups. We will use regression models to test whether stress and coping predict emotional well-being and whether entrepreneurship may buffer stress across groups. In addition, we will conduct focus groups with entrepreneurial families to learn more about how they view their business, what challenges they face, and what benefits they experience. This mixed-method approach will allow US to develop a more complete picture of how entrepreneurship functions as a financial and emotional support strategy for families of individuals with DS. This project is hosted at auburn university at montgomery, a minority-serving institution, and will directly involve at least eight paid undergraduate students each year. These students will receive hands-on training in research design, data collection, analysis, and scientific writing. They will also CO-author papers and present findings, helping to build the university's research culture and prepare students for undergraduate study or careers in biomedical and behavioral research. The findings will inform inclusive employment policies and help shape future support systems for individuals with DS and their families.