TY - JOUR

T1 - Focus on opportunities as a mediator of the relationship between business owner's age and venture growth

AU - Gielnik, Michael

AU - Zacher, Hannes

AU - Frese, Michael

PY - 2012/1

Y1 - 2012/1

N2 - Combining upper echelons and lifespan theories, we investigated the mediating effect of focus on opportunities on the negative relationship between business owners' age and venture growth. We also expected that mental health moderates the negative relationship between business owners' age and focus on opportunities. Path analytic findings based on data from 84 business owners (mean age=44, range 24–74) supported these hypotheses. Findings suggest that focus on opportunities is a psychological mechanism that links business owners' age withventure growth. Our findings also indicate that mental health helps maintain a high level of focus on opportunities with increasing age.

AB - Combining upper echelons and lifespan theories, we investigated the mediating effect of focus on opportunities on the negative relationship between business owners' age and venture growth. We also expected that mental health moderates the negative relationship between business owners' age and focus on opportunities. Path analytic findings based on data from 84 business owners (mean age=44, range 24–74) supported these hypotheses. Findings suggest that focus on opportunities is a psychological mechanism that links business owners' age withventure growth. Our findings also indicate that mental health helps maintain a high level of focus on opportunities with increasing age.

KW - Business psychology

KW - Age

KW - Focus on opportunities

KW - Lifespan

KW - Mental health

KW - Venture growth

KW - Entrepreneurship

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=81555201992&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2010.05.002

DO - 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2010.05.002

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 27

SP - 127

EP - 142

JO - Journal of Business Venturing

JF - Journal of Business Venturing

SN - 1873-2003

IS - 1

ER -