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A Multilevel Approach Linking Entrepreneurial Contexts to Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Rural Chinese Entrepreneurs

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Abstract

This study introduces a multilevel theoretical framework that explains spatially bounded relationships between social and institutional factors and entrepreneurs’ subjective well-being. Using a sample of 4600 Chinese entrepreneurs running agribusinesses in rural areas across 31 Chinese provinces, we find that the evaluation of subjective well-being, in terms of job and life satisfaction, is higher for entrepreneurs who have higher levels of family support and institutional trust, and for those who reside in provinces with higher levels of family support and institutional trust. Additionally, entrepreneurs’ trust in institutions is more potent for their job satisfaction in provinces with a higher average level of institutional trust. Altogether, our study highlights the multifaceted impact of entrepreneurial contexts on subjective well-being, with important implications for the entrepreneurship theory on subjective well-being effects and practical suggestions for policymakers and entrepreneurs.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by National Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 71673090), Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (2018A0303130006, 2020A1515010464), Guangdong Planning Foundation of Philosophy and Social Sciences (Grant Number: GD17XGL51), Creative Grants for Guangdong Universities (Grant Number: 2019WTSCX007).

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  1. College of Economics and Management, South China Agricultural University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China

    Feng Xu & Xueru Yang

  2. College of Business, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China

    Xiaogang He

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Xu, F., He, X. & Yang, X. A Multilevel Approach Linking Entrepreneurial Contexts to Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Rural Chinese Entrepreneurs. J Happiness Stud 22, 1537–1561 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00283-z

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