Why Peer Support Matters: Entrepreneurial Stressors, Emotional Exhaustion, and Growth Intentions of Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract This article builds on the stressor-strain-outcome framework to explain how entrepreneurial stressors (stressor) and emotional exhaustion (strain) hinder the growth intentions of women entrepreneurs (outcome). A stress-buffering hypothesis is also used to explain how peer support can buffer the entrepreneurial stressor – emotional exhaustion – growth intention relationship. Using a sample of 300 South African women entrepreneurs, our evidence demonstrates that in addition to a significant direct effect on growth intentions, entrepreneurial stressors also contribute to an increase in emotional exhaustion. This, in turn, hinders the growth intentions of women entrepreneurs. We argue that peer support plays a vital buffering role by significantly reducing the effect of entrepreneurial stressors on emotional exhaustion, shielding women entrepreneurs from the adverse effects of entrepreneurial stressors upon venture growth intentions. Finally, implications for theory and practice are discussed.