From adversity to advantage: the role of spirituality and grit in entrepreneurial resilience
(1) School of Business & Economics, Prasetiya Mulya University Jakarta
(2) School of Business & Economics, Prasetiya Mulya University Jakarta
(3) School of Business & Economics, Prasetiya Mulya University Jakarta
(4) School of Business & Economics, Prasetiya Mulya University Jakarta
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
Drawing on positive psychology and broaden-and-build theory, this study examines spirituality and grit as psychological antecedents of entrepreneurial resilience and investigates the impact of resilience on entrepreneurial success. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from 270 traditional grocery store entrepreneurs in the Jabodetabek area through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings indicate that both spirituality and grit significantly enhance entrepreneurial resilience, with spirituality showing a stronger predictive effect. Entrepreneurial resilience, in turn, positively influences entrepreneurial success, highlighting its role as a strategic psychological capability that supports business sustainability. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and sector-specific sample, which may limit causal inference and generalizability. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs, include a broader range of entrepreneurial sectors, and incorporate contextual moderators to better capture the dynamic development of resilience. This study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by extending entrepreneurial resilience research through a positive psychology perspective and identifying spirituality and grit as key psychological resources among traditional grocery store entrepreneurs operating under resource constraints in post-pandemic environments.
Keywords
References
Ahmed, A. E., Ucbasaran, D., Cacciotti, G., & Williams, T. A. (2022). Integrating psychological resilience, stress, and coping in entrepreneurship: A critical review and research agenda. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 46(3), 497–538. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587211046542
Ahsan, M., Gyensare, M. A., Adomako, S., & Zheng, C. (2025). Chronic health issues and entrepreneurship: Exploring the role of grit, bricolage and illness uncertainty on venture performance. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 43(3), 246–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/02662426241297642
Al-alawi, A., Amjed, S., Haddoud, M. Y., & Soliman, M. (2025). Re-entry intentions of failed entrepreneurs: The roles of social support and resilience. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 32(2), 411–436. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-12-2023-0585
Anshori, A. A., Holik, A. E. N., Fatimah, S. E., & Srisuk, P. (2025). The effects of positive emotion and bonus packs in encouraging impulse buying. Manajemen Dan Bisnis, 24(2), 324. https://doi.org/10.24123/mabis.v24i2.925
Arifin, M. A., Zakaria, M., & Bustaman, H. A. (2023). Digital adoption, self-efficacy, and business success – towards resilience and sustainability micro-entrepreneurs in the post-pandemic world. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2260128
Ayala, J. C., & Manzano, G. (2014). The resilience of the entrepreneur. Influence on the success of the business. A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Economic Psychology, 42, 126–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2014.02.004
Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia. (2021). Laporan perekonomian Indonesia 2021. https://www.bps.go.id/id/publication/2021/09/17/f3ece7157064514772b18335/laporan-perekonomian-indonesia-2021.html
Baluku, M. M. (2025). The interactive effects of grit and resilience on perceived behavioural control, entrepreneurial alertness, opportunity recognition and intentions. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 34(3), 455–490. https://doi.org/10.1177/09713557251361699
Bardoel, E. A., & Drago, R. (2021). Acceptance and strategic resilience: An application of conservation of resources theory. Group & Organization Management, 46(4), 657–691. https://doi.org/10.1177/10596011211022488
Baysal, M. (2022). Positive psychology and spirituality: A review study. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 7(3), 359–388. https://doi.org/10.37898/spc.2022.7.3.179
Bittencourt, B. A., Milleto, L., & Avila Freischlag, B. L. (2025). Grit and individual entrepreneurial orientation: Are passion and perseverance the basis for entrepreneurial performance? Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(4), 1019–1040. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-06-2024-0251
Branicki, L. J., Sullivan-Taylor, B., & Livschitz, S. R. (2018). How entrepreneurial resilience generates resilient SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 24(7), 1244–1263. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2016-0396
Chadwick, I. C., & Raver, J. L. (2020). Psychological resilience and its downstream effects for business survival in nascent entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 44(2), 233–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1042258718801597
Cheng, E. H., Kam, C. C. S., & Cui, T. (2023). Revisiting grit: How much does it overlap with resilience? International Journal of Educational Research, 119, 102187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102187
Chhatwani, M., Mishra, S. K., Varma, A., & Rai, H. (2022). Psychological resilience and business survival chances: A study of small firms in the USA during COVID-19. Journal of Business Research, 142, 277–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.048
Chin, W. W. (1998). The partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling. Modern Methods for Business Research, 295(2), 295–336.
Doern, R. (2016). Entrepreneurship and crisis management: The experiences of small businesses during the London 2011 riots. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 34(3), 276–302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242614553863
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087
Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the short Grit Scale (Grit-S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634290
Emueje, I., Olannye, H. O., & Olanye, A. P. (2020). Entrepreneurial resilience and performance of an organization: A survey of small and medium enterprises in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Webology, 17(2), 445–461. https://doi.org/10.14704/WEB/V17I2/WEB17044
Fatoki, O. (2018). The impact of entrepreneurial resilience on the success of small and medium enterprises in South Africa. Sustainability, 10(7), 2527. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072527
Fisher, R., Maritz, A., & Lobo, A. (2016). Does individual resilience influence entrepreneurial success? Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 22(2), 39–53.
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
Fredrickson, B. L. (2002). How does religion benefit health and well-being? Are positive emotions active ingredients? Psychological Inquiry, 13(3), 209–213.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positive Emotions Broaden and Build. In Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 47, pp. 1–53). Academic Press Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407236-7.00001-2
González-López, M. J., Pérez-López, M. C., & Rodríguez-Ariza, L. (2019). Clearing the hurdles in the entrepreneurial race: The role of resilience in entrepreneurship education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 18(3), 457–483. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2016.0377
Gottschalck, N., Branner, K., Rolan, L., & Kellermanns, F. (2024). Cross-level effects of entrepreneurial orientation and ambidexterity on the resilience of small business owners. Journal of Small Business Management, 62(1), 103–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2021.2002878
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Thousand Oaks (3rd ed). Ca: Sage.
Hartmann, S., Backmann, J., Newman, A., Brykman, K. M., & Pidduck, R. J. (2022). Psychological resilience of entrepreneurs: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Small Business Management, 60(5), 1041–1079. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2021.2024216
Hayward, M. L. A., Forster, W. R., Sarasvathy, S. D., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2010). Beyond hubris: How highly confident entrepreneurs rebound to venture again. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(6), 569–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.03.002
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
Herriott, E. N., Schmidt‐Wilk, J., & Heaton, D. P. (2009). Spiritual dimensions of entrepreneurship in Transcendental Meditation and TM‐Sidhi program practitioners. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 6(3), 195–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766080903069299
Humas Kementerian UMKM. (2026). Kemitraan Ritel Dorong Pengusaha UMKM Perkuat Ekonomi Nasional. https://umkm.go.id/news/i7vyanhxexlyjw5qqhx5uhuv
Kadin Indonesia. (2025). UMKM Indonesia. https://kadin.id/data-dan-statistik/umkm-indonesia/
Kaes, M., Kruse, S., Maus, C., Krieweth, C., & Brettel, M. (2025). Entrepreneurs can create a better tomorrow: The relationship between entrepreneurial grit, nonfinancial success, and societal impact. Journal of Small Business Management, 63(2), 653–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2024.2342839
Katadata. (2021). Digitalisasi UMKM di tengah pandemi Covid-19. https://katadata.co.id/umkm
Kock, N., & Hadaya, P. (2018). Minimum sample size estimation in PLS-SEM: The inverse square root and gamma-exponential methods. Information Systems Journal, 28(1), 227–261. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12131
Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730
Kolade, O., Egbetokun, A., Adegbite, E., & Obembe, D. (2026). Guts, grit and god? spiritual capital and entrepreneurial resilience in a turbulent environment. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne Des Sciences de l’Administration, 43(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.70049
Kromidha, E., & Bachtiar, N. K. (2024). Developing entrepreneurial resilience from uncertainty as usual: A learning theory approach on readiness, response and opportunity. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 30(4), 1001–1022. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2022-1025
Lelly, W., Setyanti, H., Bektiarso, S., Naufal, M. I., & Zulkarnain, D. (2026). Building adaptive performance through knowledge competence, organizational culture, and perceived organizational support. Manajemen Dan Bisnis, 25(2), 120. https://doi.org/10.24123/mabis.v25i2.1070
Liyanagamage, N., Glavas, C., Kodagoda, T., & Schuster, L. (2024). Psychological capital and emotions on “surviving” or “thriving” during uncertainty: Evidence from women entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business Management, 62(5), 2670–2706. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2023.2250408
Luthans, F., & Youssef-Morgan, C. M. (2017). Psychological capital: An evidence-based positive approach. Annu. Rev. Organ. Psychol. Organ. Behav, 4, 339–366. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych
Nautiyal, S., & Pathak, P. (2024). A resilient path to prosperity: Understanding the impact of entrepreneurial resilience on SMEs. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 14(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40497-024-00379-3
Neneh, B., & Ofem, B. (2025). Boundary conditions of the entrepreneurial passion-behavior link: The role of psychological resilience and grit. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-06-2024-0230
Niaga Asia. (2024). Jumlah toko kelontong di Indonesia. https://www.niaga.asia/jumlah-toko-kelontong-394-juta-mendag-setara-9878-persen-ritel/
Obregon, S. L., Lopes, L. F. D., Kaczam, F., da Veiga, C. P., & da Silva, W. V. (2022). Religiosity, spirituality and work: A systematic literature review and research directions. Journal of Business Ethics, 179(2), 573–595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04856-7
Paramita, W., Virgosita, R., Rostiani, R., Wibowo, A., Almahendra, R., & Junarsin, E. (2022). “I will not let you die”: The effect of anthropomorphism on entrepreneurs’ resilience during economic downturn. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 17, e00300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2021.e00300
Petchsawang, P., & Duchon, D. (2009). Measuring workplace spirituality in an Asian context. Human Resource Development International, 12(4), 459–468. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678860903135912
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification (Vol. 1). Oxford university press.
Purnomo, B. R., Adiguna, R., Widodo, W., Suyatna, H., & Nusantoro, B. P. (2021). Entrepreneurial resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic: navigating survival, continuity and growth. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 13(4), 497–524. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2020-0270
Renko, M., Bullough, A., & Saeed, S. (2021). How do resilience and self-efficacy relate to entrepreneurial intentions in countries with varying degrees of fragility? A six-country study. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 39(2), 130–156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242620960456
Richardson, G. E. (2002). The metatheory of resilience and resiliency. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(3), 307–321. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10020
Rothenberg, A. D., Gaduh, A., Burger, N. E., Chazali, C., Tjandraningsih, I., Radikun, R., Sutera, C., & Weilant, S. (2016). Rethinking Indonesia’s informal sector. World Development, 80, 96–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.11.005
Salisu, I., Hashim, N., Mashi, M. S., & Aliyu, H. G. (2020). Perseverance of effort and consistency of interest for entrepreneurial career success. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 12(2), 279–304. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-02-2019-0025
Santoro, G., Bertoldi, B., Giachino, C., & Candelo, E. (2020). Exploring the relationship between entrepreneurial resilience and success: The moderating role of stakeholders’ engagement. Journal of Business Research, 119, 142–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.052
Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Becker, J.-M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). How to specify, estimate, and validate higher-order constructs in PLS-SEM. Australasian Marketing Journal, 27(3), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2019.05.003
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
Shelton, C. D., Hein, S., & Phipps, K. A. (2020). Resilience and spirituality: A mixed methods exploration of executive stress. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 28(2), 399–416. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-08-2019-1848
Shepherd, D. A., Saade, F. P., & Wincent, J. (2020). How to circumvent adversity? Refugee-entrepreneurs’ resilience in the face of substantial and persistent adversity. Journal of Business Venturing, 35(4), 105940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2019.06.001
Silalahi, S. A. F., Junaidi, A., Nasution, L. Z., Sutoto, A., Hutomo, A. S., Sutrisno, J., Lukas, A., Ginting, J., Suripto, S., & Lestari, R. (2023). Grit and business survivability among small business during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of servant leadership. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2284442
Sinclair, V. G., & Wallston, K. A. (2004). The development and psychometric evaluation of the brief resilient coping scale. Assessment, 11(1), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191103258144
Singh, S., Corner, P. D., & Pavlovich, K. (2016). Spirituality and entrepreneurial failure. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 13(1), 24–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766086.2015.1029961
Smith, B. W., Ortiz, J. A., Wiggins, K. T., Bernard, J. F., & Dalen, J. (2012). Spirituality, resilience, and positive emotions. In The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality (pp. 437–454). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199729920.013.0028
Tambunan, T. (2020). MSMEs in times of crisis: Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Developing Economies, 5(2), 91. https://doi.org/10.20473/jde.v5i2.20848
Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2), 320–333. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.320
Van Cappellen, P., Edwards, M. E., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2021). Upward spirals of positive emotions and religious behaviors. Current Opinion in Psychology, 40, 92–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24123/mabis.v25i3.1291
Article Metrics
Abstract view : 0 timesRefbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aries Wiranata, Andreas Budihardjo, Indria Handoko, Eka Ardianto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. ISSN: 1412-3789. e-ISSN: 2477-1783.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |









