Coping with Entrepreneurial Stress and Burnout: Evidence from Women MSME Entrepreneurs in Kerala

Krishnapriya G; Ajithkumar N

doi:10.54392/ajir25419

Authors

Krishnapriya G Department of Commerce and Management, School of Arts, Humanities and Commerce, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi Campus, Brahmasthanam, Kochi, Kerala 682024, India Author
Ajithkumar N Department of Commerce and Management, School of Arts, Humanities and Commerce, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi Campus, Brahmasthanam, Kochi, Kerala 682024, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54392/ajir25419

Keywords:

Women Entrepreneurs, MSMES, Stress, Burnout

Abstract

This paper will examine coping, stress, and burnout among 750 women-owned MSMEs in an Indian state of Kerala. The survey methodology and a standardized tool were used to collect data. The findings found that 22 percent of the female entrepreneurs mentioned very stressful levels, which indicates that these female entrepreneurs are exposed to moderate but widespread levels of stress. The age and size of the business played an important role in the determination of stress levels with micro-business owners and younger executives (below 35 of age) recording the highest levels of stress. Burnout was also strongly correlated with stress, and the most obvious one was burnout that was associated with personal and professional lives. Even though the avoidance coping represented the minor part, it has been linked to the increased level of stress when compared to feelings- and problem-focused coping strategies. Based on the Smart PLS-SEM analysis, coping strategies mediated burnout insignificantly whereas perceived stress had a significant and direct effect on burnout (0.56, p < 0.001), explaining 33% of its variance. The case study reveals that female entrepreneurship is adversely affected by the mental health of the entrepreneurs through behavioural coping strategies and structural limitations. Policy consequences emphasize how mentoring, stress management, and adaptable coping skills training should be included in women's entrepreneurship programs. This study adds to the corpus of literature by providing empirically supported suggestions for improving the long-term viability and flexibility of women-led MSMEs by methodically linking burnout, stress, and coping in the neglected setting of Kerala.

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