Spousal Expectations and Perceived Social Support During the Creation of a New Business Venture

Abstract

The current economic crisis has created a climate of financial uncertainty for many American families. One solution for an increasing segment of the population is to start a new business. While there is an established body of research that explores the financial implications of launching a new business venture, there is limited work on the relational aspects involved. Previous research suggests that a strong marital relationship may be one of the myriad resources needed to sustain a new business, yet the business may also place significant strain on the marital relationship. The authors present an exploration of how couple expectations of the impact of the new business venture interact with the perceptions of social support by using concepts from Optimal Matching Theory and Conservation of Resources theory. Findings suggest that the relationship between expectations and social support within entrepreneurial couples is complex and that clinicians who work with these couples may need specialized strategies to assess, conceptualize, and treat their presenting problems.

KEYWORDS:

• assessment of couple relationships
• financial issues
• marriage/couple relationship functioning