Psychological resilience of small tourism business entrepreneurs in times of crisis through the lens of compensatory control theory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Guided by the psychological resilience perspective and compensatory control theory, this study examined the psychological resilience of small tourism business (STB) entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 outbreak between January 2020 and April 2023. Qualitative face-to-face interviews with 21 entrepreneurs of STBs in Macao, China were conducted. The findings showed that entrepreneurs faced different stages of uncertainty during the pandemic, which led them to draw on various personal and external resources in their compensatory control strategies. Also, the types of resources the entrepreneurs drew on varied depending on their degree of control over the uncertainties in various stages. When a certain degree of control was improved, entrepreneurs’ reliance on particular types of resources would decrease, and vice versa. This study contributed a novel approach to examining the psychological resilience of small business entrepreneurs during the pandemic, especially the various stages of uncertainty they faced, and the compensatory control strategies they adopted. In addition, this study highlighted the importance of understanding the dynamic between one’s degree of control over uncertainties and the use of personal and external resources. Practical suggestions were also given to the relevant stakeholders for ways to provide timely and appropriate assistance to the STBs.