How social support shapes entrepreneurial intentions: sequential gains in self-efficacy and attitude

TL;DR

This study shows how social support boosts entrepreneurial intentions through self-efficacy and positive attitudes.

Contribution

The paper introduces a chain mediation model showing how social support influences entrepreneurial intention via self-efficacy and attitude.

Findings

Social support significantly predicts entrepreneurial self-efficacy and directly affects entrepreneurial intention.

Self-efficacy and attitude strongly predict entrepreneurial intention.

A chain mediation path from social support to entrepreneurial intention through self-efficacy and attitude was confirmed.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial attitude, and social support. The study also seeks to investigate the mediating impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial attitude (EA) on the relationship between entrepreneurial intention (EI) and social support (SS). Five hundred and thirty-eight Chinese college students were randomly selected and answered a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using linear regression and bootstrap. Results indicated that social support predicted self-efficacy (β = 0.783) and directly affected intention (β = 0.198). Self-efficacy (β = 0.813) and attitude (β = 0.636) predicted intention. Self-efficacy promoted attitude (β = 0.168) was also found. Furthermore, the chain mediation SS → ESE → EA → EI was significant. Finally, the model explained 77.8% of the variance of intention. In summary, social support helps facilitate entrepreneurial intention through the method of “Self-efficacy → attitude”, showing that universities strengthen support networks and ability experiences to transform entrepreneurial intention.

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