Paradoxical Psychology in disability entrepreneurship

Social exclusion and constraint shape how individuals with disabilities mobilize psychological dispositions and resources, calling for a perspective on disability entrepreneurship that departs from mainstream entrepreneurship research. This study compares entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs with disabilities to examine these distinct motivational dynamics. The findings reveal a paradoxical structure: entrepreneurial self-efficacy is negatively associated with entrepreneurial motivation, whereas self-stigma and resilience are negatively associated with self-efficacy yet positively associated with motivation. These dynamics also differ by entrepreneurial status. These patterns may be interpreted in terms of constraint-induced and adaptive motivational pathways. The findings suggest that disability entrepreneurship may constitute a contextual boundary condition for prevailing theories of entrepreneurial motivation and position resilience as a context-dependent rather than uniformly beneficial resource. Support programs should be tailored to the distinct motivational processes of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs with disabilities.