The influence mechanism of women’s entrepreneurial self-identity on entrepreneurial well-being: evidence from China

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate how women’s entrepreneurial self-identity influences their experience of well-being through entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This study tested and validated a model using survey data from 210 women entrepreneurs in China. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping methods were used to test the hypotheses. Findings This study finds that women’s entrepreneurial self-identity not only has a direct positive effect on entrepreneurial well-being but also an indirect positive effect on entrepreneurial well-being through the mediating role of entrepreneurial work autonomy and work meaning. Moreover, in mediation analyses, the autonomy and meaning of entrepreneurial work simultaneously mediate the relationship between women’s entrepreneurial self-identity and entrepreneurial well-being, and further play a chain mediating role between the two. Originality/value Little is known about how women perceive well-being through entrepreneurship. Moreover, the available literature has mostly overlooked the impact of women’s entrepreneurial self-identity on their entrepreneurial well-being. This study reveals the influence mechanism from the perspectives of identity and self-determination theories, with a focus on women entrepreneurs in China.