Integrating emotion regulation, emotional intelligence, and emotion-focused coping in the entrepreneurial context: A review and research agenda

Abstract

Existing research in the entrepreneurial context tends to treat emotions as static phenomena, paying limited attention to the question of how entrepreneurs can actively shape their emotional experiences through emotion management to enhance their well-being and performance. Furthermore, the exploration of how entrepreneurs manage their emotions to sustain their entrepreneurial activities often employs different concepts and terminologies resulting in a fragmented literature that lacks continuity. To extract a common thread from this research field, we conducted a systematic integrative review and integrated research on emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, and emotion-focused coping in the entrepreneurial context using the umbrella term of emotion management. With a comprehensive framework, we organised the emotion management literature around perspectives on an entrepreneur’s individual ability, a trait, and situation-specific strategies. Additionally, we highlighted contextual factors, specifically macro- and meso-level factors, individual factors, antecedents, and consequences. Drawing upon our findings, we reveal existing gaps and propose future directions for emotion management in entrepreneurship research.