Resilience, community, and communication: A mixed-methods study of small entrepreneurs in Post-COVID

This study explores the multidimensional resilience of micro and small tourism entrepreneurs in Pangandaran, Indonesia, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a qualitatively-driven mixed methods embedded design, the research integrates thematic analysis from in-depth interviews with quantitative insights from the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25) completed by 60 respondents. Five key themes emerged: adaptive entrepreneurship, community as emotional and structural buffer, spirituality and family motivation, communication practice and digital divide, and structural barriers and policy friction. Findings reveal that resilience is not merely a psychological trait but a dynamic interplay between individual competence, social support, and structural conditions. While many entrepreneurs demonstrate high psychological resilience, systemic constraints such as bureaucratic complexity and digital literacy gaps significantly hinder their recovery. The study offers a contextualised understanding of resilience in tourism-based microenterprises, proposing an ecological model that integrates psychological, cultural, and institutional dimensions. Furthermore, the study suggests the combined use of CD-RISC and narrative interviews as an effective tool for mapping resilience in non-clinical, community-based settings. These findings provide critical insights for inclusive recovery policies that acknowledge local adaptation, informal structures, and socio-cultural values in the design of post-crisis entrepreneurship support programmes.