Abstract
Family firms sit at the nexus of overlapping identities, enduring emotional ties, and continuous relational expectations. Although prior research has emphasized firm-level outcomes, far less is known about the human cost of these dynamics, specifically, how the interplay of family and business shapes individual well-being. The family firm is inherently double-edged: shared identity and cohesion can foster thriving, yet under strain, they may trigger identity conflict, relational breakdowns, and dysfunction. This panel advances an integrative, multilevel perspective on well-being in family firms by theorizing how everyday stressors are amplified or buffered through conflict dynamics, identity tensions, and resource flows, determining whether the context becomes a source of harmony or a headache. Drawing on identity theory, conflict management, family science, and conservation of resources theory, panelists address four themes: identity tensions and emotional labor; micro-level conflict processes; resource loss and protection; and the role of proactivity and HR practices in fostering resilience. Together, the panel charts a research agenda for understanding and improving well-being in family firms.