Ekonomiska krisens påverkan på fastighetsmäklare : En kvalitativ studie om hur fastighetsmäklare påverkas av och hanterar arbetsrelaterad stress under en ekonomisk nedgång

Sammanfattning

Title: Impact of the economic crisis on real estate agents Level: Bachelor's Thesis in Business Administration, 15 credits Author: Wilma Uhlin and Kevin Karbalai Supervisor: Lars-Johan Åge Date: May 2024 Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the stress factors affecting real estate agents during periods of economic uncertainty and to analyze their impact on the well-being of the agents. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the coping strategies employed by real estate agents to manage the perceived stress. Method: A qualitative research method with a deductive approach was employed. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with six commission-based real estate agents. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis method. Results and conclusions: The results show that real estate agents experience high levels of work-related stress during economic downturns, which affects them both mentally and physically. To cope with this stress, they use different coping strategies, both personally and towards clients. Contribution of the thesis: The study contributes theoretically by identifying new stress factors specific to real estate agents and practically by suggesting strategies for managing stress during economic downturns. These insights can be used by employers to develop support programs that help agents better manage stress and maintain their well-being. Suggestions for future research: Future research should explore how different personality traits and professional experiences influence the choice and effectiveness of coping strategies in various economic contexts. This could help develop tailored support programs for real estate agents and similar professions. Key words: Economic downturn, mental health, sales professions, Job Demand-Control model, Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, stress, mental strain, job insecurity, recession, commission.