Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance as a Mediator Between Recovery Experiences and Burnout in Agricultural Entrepreneurs.

Objectives Agricultural entrepreneurs face significant occupational stressors, including long working hours, and blurred work-life boundaries. These factors contribute to an increased risk of burnout, yet little research has explored how recovery experiences – psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery, and control – impact their mental health. This study examines the role of recovery experiences in reducing burnout and assesses whether satisfaction with work-life balance mediates this relationship.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using survey data from 916 agricultural entrepreneurs in France. Participants completed validated measures assessing recovery experiences, satisfaction with work-life balance, and burnout. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test direct and indirect associations between recovery dimensions and burnout, while accounting for control variables such as age, sex, relationship status, number of children, weekly working hours, and farm type.Results Findings indicate that recovery experiences play a crucial role in maintaining satisfaction with work-life balance and reducing burnout. Psychological detachment (β = 0.190, p < .001), relaxation (β = 0.254, p < .001), and control (β = 0.317, p < .001) were positively associated with satisfaction with work-life balance, supporting H1. Satisfaction with work-life balance was significantly related to lower burnout levels (β = –0.399, p < .001), supporting H2. Direct negative associations between relaxation (β = –0.153, p = .001) and control (β = –0.132, p = .001) with burnout were observed, supporting H3. Psychological detachment (β = –0.076, p < .001), relaxation (β = –0.101, p < .001), and control (β = –0.126, p < .001) had significant indirect effects on burnout through satisfaction with work-life balance, supporting H4. Mastery did not show significant associations with satisfaction with work-life balance or burnout.Conclusion This study highlights the critical role of recovery experiences in mitigating burnout among agricultural entrepreneurs. While relaxation and control directly reduce burnout, psychological detachment primarily influences burnout through improved satisfaction with work-life balance. These findings suggest that targeted interventions, such as promoting structured recovery practices and satisfaction with work-life balance strategies, could enhance mental health in this high-risk population. Future research should explore longitudinal designs and cross-cultural comparisons to further understand recovery experiences among self-employed workers in agriculture.