Special Issue 71 (2026/4) – Entrepreneurial Well-being and Health: Innovating and Building a Business without Burning Out

Guest Editors

Stéphanie Bugaut-Heichelbech, IPAG Nice (France) – stephanie.heichelbech@ipag.fr
Rahma Chouchane, University of Laval (Canada) – Rahma.Chouchane@fsa.ulaval.ca
Florence Guiliani, University of Sherbrooke (Canada) – florence.guiliani@usherbrooke.ca

Olivier Torrès, University of Montpellier – WOAgri (France) – olivier.Torrès@umontpellier.fr

Entrepreneurial well-being and health constitute a rapidly expanding research field that raises numerous yet unexplored questions. For instance, entrepreneurial well-being could be analyzed from various perspectives (Stephan et al., 2023; Wiklund et al., 2019). Moreover, the role of entrepreneurs’ spouses in influencing entrepreneurs’ health remains largely understudied. These different research avenues call for in-depth exploration and strongly support the aim of this special issue: to examine the links between well-being, health, and entrepreneurship in all their forms. This includes, in particular, intrapreneurship (Chouchane & St-Jean, 2023), family businesses (Miller et al., 2020), and hybrid entrepreneurship (Ardianti et al., 2022).

Expected contributions can take a variety of forms:

Research articles providing empirical and theoretical data;
Field studies promoting dialogue with stakeholders;
Presentations of innovative practices or mechanisms;
Sharing experiences that shed new light on this topic from original perspectives.

We hope thereby to enrich the debate on entrepreneurial health and well-being and to open new avenues for reflection and action for researchers and practitioners.

Themes and questions to be addressed (the list is not exhaustive) :

The different facets of entrepreneurial well-being: what are the multiple dimensions of well-being in entrepreneurs, going beyond purely physical aspects to include mental, emotional, and social dimensions? How do these various dimensions interact over time?

Links between mental health disorders and entrepreneurship: is there a higher prevalence of mental health disorders among entrepreneurs? What are the interactions between these disorders and an entrepreneurial career?

Stress management strategies in an entrepreneurial context: what different strategies can entrepreneurs implement to effectively manage stress and preserve their mental health? How do self-care techniques or the search for adequate social support contribute to stress management?

Influence of sleep on entrepreneurial activity: what influence does sleep have on key aspects of entrepreneurial activity such as decision-making, creativity, stress management, and professional relationships? What factors disrupt entrepreneurs’ sleep? What solutions exist to improve their sleep hygiene?

Depression, burnout, suicidal risks, and entrepreneurship: what are the warning signs, risk factors, and preventive measures that can be put in place to protect entrepreneurs’ mental health? How can we promote a more compassionate entrepreneurial culture, where performance is not pursued at the expense of health and well-being?

Atypical profiles and neurodiversity in entrepreneurship: what specific challenges do atypical profiles face in the entrepreneurial sphere? How can we recognize and value the strengths and unique perspectives these individuals bring to entrepreneurship? What avenues can be explored to understand how the entrepreneurial ecosystem can better adapt to welcome and support neurodiversity?

Entrepreneurship after or during illness: what are the motivations, obstacles, and specific success factors for entrepreneurs who have gone through illness? How does the experience of illness impact their approach to entrepreneurship?
The importance of family and friends for entrepreneurial well-being: how can support from family and friends help reduce stress, promote work-life balance, and contribute to overall entrepreneurial success? What is the impact of entrepreneurship on family dynamics and relationships within couples and families? And on friendships?