Work

Reframing Well-Being in Family Businesses During Crises: A Bibliometric Review Through a Stakeholder Theory Lens

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study addresses fragmented crisis research that treats well-being in family businesses (FBs) and stakeholder theory as separate domains. Using a bibliometric review with a framework-building orientation, we analyze 277 peer-reviewed articles (1998–2025). Our findings reveal uneven attention to stakeholder mechanisms (i.e. salience, alignment, and engagement) and to well-being across micro, meso, and macro levels. In most studies, well-being remains underdefined, and FBs are often treated as contextual rather than central actors. In response, we propose a multi-level, stakeholder-driven definition of well-being in FBs and develop an antecedents–outcomes framework linking crisis disruptions, stakeholder mechanisms, and well-being outcomes. We conclude with a future research agenda aimed at integrating stakeholder theory with multi-level approaches to crisis and well-being in FB contexts.

Source: Entrepreneurship Research Journal

DOI: 10.1515/erj-2025-0421

Authors: Sana Saidi, Mohamed Sellami, Hela Chebbi

Institutions: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, EDC Paris Business School, Université du Québec à Montréal

Language: English

Topic: Family Business Performance and Succession

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,712