Role salience and the growth intention of women entrepreneurs: does work-life balance make a difference?

Abstract

Work and family are two of the most competing and salient roles in the life of every individual. As such, individuals often make behavioral decisions based on the relative salience (work or family) they attach to these life roles. Given that growth intention is a vital behavioral choice in the life of an entrepreneur, this study examined how role salience influences the growth intentions of women entrepreneurs. Moreover, for most women entrepreneurs, their family domain is highly entwined with the business domain, and as such, having an adequate work-life balance is often a vital personal goal. Thus, this study also examined the influence of work-life balance on the growth intentions of the women entrepreneurs as well as its moderating effect of on the relationship between role salience and growth intentions. Based on self-reported data from women entrepreneurs (N = 300), the findings of this study using logistic regression analysis revealed that both work role salience (b = .88, p < .001) and work-life balance (b = .73, p < .001) have a positive effect on the growth intentions of women entrepreneurs. Additionally, work-life balance also moderated the relationship between work role salience and growth intention such that the positive association is strengthened at high levels of work-life balance (b = .90, p < .001). The study culminates with a discussion of the implications and suggestions for future research.