Abstract:

Sleep is fundamental to the cognitive demands of entrepreneurship, yet no systematic review has been devoted to consolidating and integrating this emerging body of research. This systematic literature review synthesises 57 empirical studies on entrepreneur sleep, drawing on research across entrepreneurship, occupational health, psychology, and adjacent disciplines. We present an integrative nomological network mapping antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes of entrepreneur sleep, capturing both the determinants of sleep and its downstream consequences. Critically, consistent with conceptualisations of sleep health as a continuum, we move beyond the prevailing focus on sleep deficiency to advocate for a broader conceptualisation of sleep ranging from disorder to optimal sleep health, highlighting the underexplored potential of robust sleep to enhance entrepreneurial well-being and performance. Our review reveals a fragmented field dominated by cross-sectional, survey-based designs concentrated in a narrow range of national contexts. We identify key boundary conditions shaping antecedent-sleep and sleep-outcome relationships and highlight the nascent role of recovery experiences and interventions in supporting entrepreneur sleep. We close with a comprehensive agenda for future research. Given broader societal shifts towards flexible and decentralised work, our findings carry implications beyond entrepreneurship, informing efforts to promote well-being in the future of work.

Please choose your submission type: Developmental Paper

Primary Track: Entrepreneurship

Keywords: Entrepreneurship Theories

Menu

Mr. Nils Bayer