Exploring meaningful work as a buffer for psychological well-being for women entrepreneurs: does caregiving responsibility matter?

Abstract

Purpose Drawing on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, this study explores how meaningful work mitigates caregiving responsibility and psychological well-being among women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 360 women engaged in entrepreneurial activities in Hong Kong. Moderation analysis was performed to assess the moderating role of meaningful work on the relationship between caregiving responsibilities and psychological well-being. Findings Findings indicate that meaningful work buffers the negative effects of caregiving responsibilities on psychological well-being. However, this buffering effect varies depending on caregiving intensity. Women entrepreneurs with reduced caregiving burdens benefit more significantly from meaningful work, while sole primary caregivers experience limited buffering due to overwhelming demands. Originality/value This study advances the JD-R framework, which demonstrated that the psychological buffering capacity of meaningful work, as a personal resource, is not universally available but is conditional upon the intensity of gendered caregiving demands. JD-R scholarship previously treated occupational resources as accessible buffers across demand contexts; however, this study provides empirical evidence that the potential of meaningful work is systematically constrained when caregiving demands intensify beyond a shared-responsibility threshold.