Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Well-being (i.e., a state of feeling well mentally and functioning effectively; Ryan & Deci, 2001) is an increasingly relevant field in entrepreneurship research (Stephan et al., 2023; Wiklund et al., 2019). This dissertation examines entrepreneurs’ well-being in three studies. Study 1 focuses on entrepreneurs’ responsibility for protecting their employees’ well-being and explores the drivers of the decision to adopt stress prevention practices in micro and small sized enterprises. Study 2 considers hybrid entrepreneurship as an environment in which entrepreneurs can learn how to protect their well-being. Specifically, the study theorizes how role demands outside entrepreneurship (i.e., rigid hours in the wage-job and caring responsibilities) constrain such learning. Finally, Study 3 accounts for the multidimensionality of well-being and focuses on the outcomes of entrepreneurs’ well-being components. The dissertation uses three distinct methods to explore the research questions underlying each study: qualitative content analysis to inductively analyze interview data, linear regression analyses (including coarsened exact matching and Heckman selection models) to test hypotheses in a panel dataset, and a systematic literature review to consolidate current research. The insights of this dissertation contribute to entrepreneurship by advancing knowledge on the antecedents of employees’ and entrepreneurs’ well-being as well as outcomes of entrepreneurs’ well-being. That is, Study 1 identifies central attitudes and perceptions that drive entrepreneurs’ decision to adopt stress prevention practices for their employees. The proposed theoretical model provides insights into the ambivalent role of close relationships in smaller enterprises and the role of entrepreneurs as decision-makers. Study 2 elaborates on current theorizing on learning during hybrid entrepreneurship and thereby advances current knowledge on how entrepreneurs’ actions and well-being influence each other over time and the effect of role demands and gender differences on entrepreneurs’ well-being. Finally, Study 3 reveals differences regarding the outcomes of each component of well-being in entrepreneurship and reveals novel insights into the potential functionality of mental health disorders in entrepreneurship.
Author: Kuske, Johanna
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of Warwick
OpenAlex ID: W7071998344