The Crossover of psychosocial resources among copreneurs: An actor-partner interdependence model

Copreneurs, couples who jointly own and operate their business, are considered the smallest unit of a family business. Research on copreneurs has mainly focused on strategies they employ to manage work and family life. Less is known about the specific psychosocial resources that influence copreneurial success and how members of the dyad influence each other’s outcomes. Based on crossover and conservation of resources theories, this study examines how cognitive empathy serves as a resource that increases the recipient partner’s wellbeing and performance outcomes. The study further investigated the mediating role of psychological capital in the crossover process. Data from 140 copreneurs in Australia were analyzed using an actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). Results showed that female cognitive empathy was positively related to male psychological wellbeing and job performance. Furthermore, psychological capital mediated the positive crossover effect of cognitive empathy on outcomes. Both female and male cognitive empathy indirectly enhanced their partner’s wellbeing and job performance by increasing their partner’s psychological capital. Female cognitive empathy enhanced male firm performance satisfaction via increased male psychological capital. Implications for research and practice are discussed.