OXFORD, Ohio — June 2026 — The Center for L.I.F.E. (Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship) at Miami University has officially announced the winner of the Best Paper Award at the 5th Annual L.I.F.E. Research Conference. This year’s top honor was awarded to a groundbreaking study exploring how spiritual beliefs fundamentally reshape entrepreneurial resilience, titled “Psychological perspectives on faith-driven persistence in self-employment: The mediating role of mental health and well-being.”
The award-winning paper was co-authored by a distinguished interdisciplinary team of scholars, including Dr. Sean Dwyer (Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business), Dr. Boris Nikolaev, Dr. Steven Bradley, and Dr. Mitchell Neubert.
Unlocking the Power of Faith-Driven Persistence
While traditional business research historically separates religious practice from economic behavior, this study directly bridges the gap by analyzing the psychological benefits of faith in highly volatile work environments. The authors investigate a vital question for modern markets: why do faith-driven entrepreneurs persist in self-employment through economic stress when others choose to walk away?
The research demonstrates that an entrepreneur’s faith does not merely act as an external moral compass; rather, it serves as a powerful internal cognitive mechanism that actively protects mental health and builds deep psychological well-being. By viewing their business ventures through the lens of a higher calling or spiritual purpose, these individuals experience enhanced emotional stability, allowing them to navigate the systemic anxieties, loneliness, and financial uncertainties inherent to self-employment.
A Purpose-Driven Framework for Future Business
“This study represents a massive step forward in understanding the holistic human experience of entrepreneurship,” noted Dr. Sean Dwyer during the conference closing. Dwyer, whose broader academic work focuses heavily on purpose, resilience, and building purpose-driven leaders, emphasizes that evaluating business models purely through financial viability leaves out the core driver of human motivation.
With more than 80% of the global population subscribing to a foundational belief system, the paper highlights that understanding entrepreneurial action on a macro level is difficult without considering the psychological anchor of faith. The findings offer immediate, practical utility for business incubators, mental health advocates, and academic institutions looking to support founder well-being holistically.
Advancing a Global Research Movement
The annual L.I.F.E. Research Conference has rapidly become the premier global ecosystem for scholars examining the intersection of faith values and economic marketplace dynamics. Hosted by the Center for L.I.F.E. Lab at Miami University, the 2026 convening brought together leading international researchers, faculty, and educators to challenge long-held assumptions in corporate literature.
About the Center for L.I.F.E. at Miami University
The Center for L.I.F.E. (Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship) at Miami University was founded to provide world-class, academically rigorous and practically relevant research exploring the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship. The center convenes annual global research and teaching conferences, hosts postdoctoral fellowships, and provides innovative classroom modules designed to translate foundational research into practical tools for students, educators, and enterprise leaders worldwide.
Media Contact: Tara Hoppe
Center for L.I.F.E. Lab, Miami University
Oxford, Ohio
hoppetl@miamioh.edu
