Straddling Security and Autonomy : A Closer Look at Hybrid Entrepreneurs' Well-Being

Title data

Albrecht, Nadine ; Reinecke, Pauline Charlotte ; Boddington, Monique ; Isidor, Rodrigo:
Straddling Security and Autonomy : A Closer Look at Hybrid Entrepreneurs' Well-Being.
In: Academy of Management Proceedings. (2025) Issue 1 .
ISSN 2151-6561

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Hybrid entrepreneurs balance building new ventures with the security of paid employment. This hybrid approach, however, can act as a double-edged sword: On one hand, financial stability and security enable hybrid entrepreneurs to offset the risks of launching start-ups, potentially enhancing their well-being. On the other hand, restricted autonomy and the difficulty of balancing multiple roles can lead to elevated stress levels, ultimately reducing their overall well-being. Drawing on arguments of energizing tensions and role conflict, we develop a new theory on how eight hybrid entrepreneurs experience and navigate their well-being over time. Our findings from a qualitative, longitudinal study (a total of 12 months of data collection in up to three interview waves) enrich research on hybrid entrepreneurship and well-being in three ways. First, we reveal two distinct types of hybrid entrepreneurs—those aspiring to transition to full-time entrepreneurship and those aiming to sustain hybrid careers—and show how their differing aspirations shape well-being tensions and coping strategies. Second, we identify nuanced well-being challenges and coping mechanisms, demonstrating how negative tensions can be reframed into positive, energizing ones. Third, we highlight how well-being tensions, including negative experiences, can paradoxically drive entrepreneurial persistence and motivation.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Keywords:	Energizing tensions; entrepreneurial well-being; hybrid entrepreneurship
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Law, Business and Economics > Department of Business Administration > Chair Business Administration IV - Human Resource Management and Intrapreneurship > Chair Business Administration IV - Human Resource Management and Intrapreneurship - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Isidor Faculties > Faculty of Law, Business and Economics > Department of Business Administration > Chair Business Administration XVI > Chair Business Administration XVI - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matthias Baum
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2025 11:14
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2025 11:14
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/91601