Entrepreneurial burnout: a systematic review and research map

Abstract

Entrepreneurial activity is gaining importance regarding its implications for societal, national, and regional development as well as economic growth. As a professional activity, entrepreneurship is defined by unique job characteristics particularly with regard to the experience of high passion, drive and spirit. Moreover, entrepreneurship is highly demanding in several domains and requires individual coping skills. In such context, the sustainability of entrepreneurial activities requires physical and mental health and well-being of entrepreneurs. Yet, burnout is a rarely discussed topic in entrepreneurial research. Hence, burnout of entrepreneurs has to be examined within the realities of their multidimensional professional context, which is shaped by the nature of entrepreneurial activity, work characteristics as well as entrepreneurs' personality. This literature review systematically examines and critically analyses 23 quantitative and qualitative articles about burnout in the context of entrepreneurship. Integrating the findings, we provide a research map for and thereby hope to stimulate further research to extend our knowledge about the challenging phenomenon of entrepreneurial burnout and its extensive consequences and implications.