When crisis hits home: cultural and gendered realities of entrepreneurial parenting in difficult times

Purpose This study identifies and details the notable effects of having children in the household and gender on how entrepreneurs experience work–family conflict, as well as on their well-being, during times of crisis (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic). Design/methodology/approach Leveraging both boundary theory and embeddedness literature, the authors analyze data from more than 6,500 entrepreneurs across 24 European countries, drawn from Eurofound's Living, Working and COVID-19 survey. Findings Entrepreneurs with children in the household experience greater work–family conflict than entrepreneurs without children, leading to variances in their psychological well-being. Female entrepreneurs are particularly affected by this increased work–family conflict and diminished well-being. However, a society's culture, measured as its embeddedness, can mitigate differences in work–family conflict and well-being between entrepreneurs with and without children. In particular, female entrepreneurs benefit from the support they receive from their embedded membership in family networks. Originality/value This study provides unique insights into the link between parenthood and psychological well-being and the influences of conflicting demands between work and family in times of crisis. It accounts for how these links vary by both gender and the broader cultural environment, offering novel recommendations for how entrepreneurs can protect themselves, even in the midst of a crisis.