Fostering life satisfaction through family support among entrepreneurs: the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and coping

Purpose Despite the growing importance of researching life satisfaction and its determinants among entrepreneurs, the effect of family support on life satisfaction among entrepreneurs in the context of developing countries remains underexplored. Additionally, there is limited understanding of the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and coping on the relationship between family support and life satisfaction. Thus, the authors analysed the effect of family support on life satisfaction among entrepreneurs in South Africa. The study further aimed to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and coping on the relationship between family support and life satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopted a quantitative research method with a causal research design. Data were collected using questionnaires from 150 entrepreneurs in South Africa. The authors used the partial least square structural equation modelling (SMART PLS 4) to test the hypothesised relationships. Findings The study established that family support positively predicts life satisfaction. The results further showed that entrepreneurial self-efficacy and coping partially mediate the association between family support and life satisfaction. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating that family support is a vital resource for entrepreneurs in developing countries who operate in volatile and resource-constrained environments. Additionally, our study demonstrated that entrepreneurial self-efficacy and coping are crucial psychological mechanisms necessary to understand how family support influences life satisfaction among entrepreneurs, an approach lacking in existing literature in a developing country context. This study culminates with practical implications for entrepreneurs and policymakers.