TITLE:
The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Entrepreneurs’ Role Overload on Entrepreneurial Well-Being
AUTHORS:
Yuxuan Chen, Jinzhi Luo
KEYWORDS:
Role Overload, Entrepreneurial Well-Being, Challenge Appraisal, Hindrance Appraisal, Future Orientation, Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Stress
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.6,
November
4,
2026
ABSTRACT: Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study develops a model of the double-edged effects of entrepreneurs’ role overload on entrepreneurial well-being. Analysis of two-wave survey data from 205 entrepreneurs indicates that role overload may enhance entrepreneurial well-being through challenge appraisal or reduce it through hindrance appraisal. Furthermore, entrepreneurs with higher future orientation are more inclined to appraise role overload as a challenge rather than a hindrance, thereby enhancing entrepreneurial well-being. These findings deepen understanding of entrepreneurs’ role overload from a dialectical perspective and offer theoretical insights and practical implications for enhancing entrepreneurial well-being.