Entrepreneur satisfaction: the role of entrepreneurial orientation, work-family fit and emotional exhaustion

Purpose The main objective of this study is to enrich the existing literature on subjective entrepreneurial success by employing satisfaction as a key indicator of entrepreneurial success. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal design with five data collection points was employed to test whether psychological well-being mediates the relationships among entrepreneurial orientation, emotional exhaustion, and work-family fit with entrepreneur satisfaction. Based on the discrepancy theory, satisfaction was measured as the gap between expectations and actual outcomes achieved. For this purpose, 180 owner-managers of family businesses. Findings Structural equation model analysis revealed a negative indirect effect of emotional exhaustion on entrepreneur satisfaction through psychological well-being and a positive indirect effect of work-family fit on entrepreneur satisfaction through psychological well-being. Originality/value Our findings suggest that, in the context of small and medium-sized family business, psychological well-being plays a key role in explaining the level of entrepreneur satisfaction family business owners. Highlights