Driving Mechanisms and Success Logic of Senior Entrepreneurship: A Three-Dimensional Integrative Framework Based on the SOC Model, Push–Pull Theory, and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Abstract

Against the macro-level backdrop of population aging and the national strategy of active aging, senior entrepreneurship has emerged as an important pathway for mobilizing older adults’ human capital and integrating individual fulfillment with broader social value creation. Consequently, it has attracted growing scholarly and societal attention. However, existing studies tend to examine senior entrepreneurship from a single theoretical perspective, lacking a systematic and integrative analysis of this multifaceted phenomenon. Through a comprehensive review of relevant domestic and international literature, this study develops an innovative three-dimensional analytical framework centered on “emotional goals–entrepreneurial motivation–action strategies.” Drawing upon Push–Pull Theory, the Selection–Optimization–Compensation (SOC) Model, and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, the paper integrates these three theoretical perspectives to construct a coherent explanatory model of senior entrepreneurial behavior. This study represents one of the first attempts to synthesize these frameworks to illuminate the underlying logic of entrepreneurship among older adults, thereby offering a distinctive theoretical lens for understanding the driving mechanisms and success pathways of senior entrepreneurs. From a practical perspective, the proposed framework provides systematic and operational guidance for policymakers in designing targeted and tiered entrepreneurship policies for older adults, for markets in building age-friendly entrepreneurial ecosystems, and for seniors themselves in preparing for entrepreneurial engagement and strategic decision-making. Ultimately, this research contributes to promoting sustainable development in an aging society.