Modelling the Impact of Entrepreneurial Personality, Self-Efficacy, Ability, and Education on College Students' Social Entrepreneurial Intentions in Zhejiang Province, China
Keywords:
Social Entrepreneurial Intention; Entrepreneurial Personality; Self-Efficacy; Entrepreneurial Ability; Entrepreneurial EducationAbstract
Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a vital force for addressing societal challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. As global concerns around inequality, poverty, and environmental degradation intensify, understanding what drives college students to engage in social entrepreneurial activities has become increasingly important. Despite growing interest, limited research has explored the combined psychological and educational factors influencing social entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs) among college students in specific cultural contexts, such as Zhejiang Province, China. The current study addresses this gap by examining the role of entrepreneurial personality (EP), self-efficacy (SE), ability, and education in shaping students’ SEIs. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to 430 college students. A purposive sampling technique was employed to target students with prior exposure to entrepreneurship education or activities, ensuring relevance and focus. Measurement scales were adapted from established studies. The analysis was conducted using SmartPLS 4.0, applying Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess both the measurement and structural models. The results revealed that all four independent variables had a significant and positive influence on SEIs. The findings validate the proposed conceptual framework and emphasize the combined importance of internal traits and external learning experiences in fostering students’ intent to pursue socially driven entrepreneurial paths. This study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by integrating educational and psychological dimensions in the context of social entrepreneurship, offering practical guidance for educators and policymakers seeking to cultivate socially responsible entrepreneurial mindsets among college students.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.9.6
References
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 50(2), 179-211.
Al-Qadasi, N., Zhang, G., Al-Awlaqi, M. A., Alshebami, A. S., & Aamer, A. (2023). Factors influencing entrepreneurial intention of university students in Yemen: The mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1111934. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1111934
Álvarez?Huerta, P., Muela, A., & Larrea, I. (2025). Longitudinal Analysis of Creative and Entrepreneurial Self?Efficacy in Undergraduates. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 59(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.1532
Anzules-Falcones, W., & Novillo-Villegas, S. (2023). Innovation capacity, entrepreneurial orientation, and flexibility: an analysis from industrial SMEs in Ecuador. Sustainability, 15(13), 10321. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310321
Ba?atarhan, T., & Siyez, D. M. (2024). The Mediating Effect of Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Parental Communication and Digital Addiction. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 830-847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-024-00549-y
Bandura, A. (2023). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective on human nature. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394259069
Bergner, S., Auburger, J., & Paleczek, D. (2023). The why and the how: A nexus on how opportunity, risk and personality affect entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Small Business Management, 61(6), 2656-2689. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2021.1934849
Brás, G. R., Daniel, A., & Fernandes, C. (2024). The effect of proximal personality traits on entrepreneurial intention among higher education students. International Journal of Innovation Science, 16(1), 114-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijis-10-2022-0198
Bui, D. T., Vu, T. N., Tran, T. V. H., Duong, C. D., & Le, T. L. (2023). Impact of institutional environment on social entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 9(3), 100120. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijebr-07-2016-0218
Chen, C. C., Greene, P. G., & Crick, A. (1998). Does entrepreneurial self-efficacy distinguish entrepreneurs from managers? Journal of Business Venturing, 13(4), 295–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0883-9026(97)00029-3
Chiengkul, W., Tantipanichkul, T., Boonchom, W., Phuangpornpitak, W., & Suphan, K. (2023). Social entrepreneurship of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in Thailand: Influence of institutional environment, entrepreneurial passions, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Social Enterprise Journal, 19(4), 370-389. https://doi.org/10.1108/sej-01-2023-0005
Chu, P., Jiang, Z., Xiao, X., Liang, X., Chen, J., & Chiang, F.-K. (2025). Exploring the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of STEM students within the context of an informal STEM education programme. Research in Science Education, 55(1), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-024-10178-1
Do Nguyen, Q., & Nguyen, H. T. (2023). Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention: The mediating role of entrepreneurial capacity. The International Journal of Management Education, 21(1), 100730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2022.100730
Ho, C. S. M., Man, T. W. Y., & Chiu, M. M. (2025). Demographics, social norms, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention: a social cognitive perspective on secondary students. International Journal of Educational Management, 39(1), 156-177. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijem-04-2024-0194
Hossain, M. U., Arefin, M. S., & Yukongdi, V. (2024). Personality traits, social self-efficacy, social support, and social entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of gender. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 15(1), 119-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2021.1936614
Ioannou, A., & Retalis, S. (2025). Building entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the EdTech sector: the impact of an entrepreneurship education program. The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 42(3), 251-268. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijilt-12-2023-0234
Ip, C.-Y., & Liang, C. (2023). Enhancing social entrepreneurial intentions through outcome expectations, perceived social support and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy: the moderating effects of sustainability orientation (Mejora de las intenciones empresariales sociales a través de las expectativas de resultados, el apoyo social percibido, y la auto-eficacia empresarial social: los efectos moderadores de la orientación a la sostenibilidad). International Journal of Social Psychology, 38(2), 379-411. https://doi.org/10.1080/02134748.2023.2178118
Kastelli, I., Siokas, G., & Tsakanikas, A. (2024). Entrepreneurial absorptive capacity as enabler of knowledge intensive entrepreneurship: An empirical investigation. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(2), 9667-9698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01465-9
Kawai, N., & Sibunruang, H. (2025). Entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy and business opportunity identification during COVID-19: the moderating role of social media interactions. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2025.2455614
Khan, N. R., Ameer, F., Bouncken, R. B., & Covin, J. G. (2023). Corporate sustainability entrepreneurship: The role of green entrepreneurial orientation and organizational resilience capacity for green innovation. Journal of Business Research, 169, 114296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114296
Kirschning, R., & Mro?ewski, M. (2023). The role of entrepreneurial absorptive capacity for knowledge spillover entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 60(1), 105-120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-022-00639-0
Le, T. L., Pham, H. T., & Nguyen, N. D. (2023). How empathy and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy interact to affect social entrepreneurial intention: a polynomial regression with response surface analysis. Oeconomia Copernicana, 14(4), 1341-1366. https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2023.039
Makhloufi, L., Laghouag, A. A., & Ali Sahli, A. (2024). Mediating effect of absorptive capacity on the relationship between knowledge sharing and entrepreneurial orientation and the moderating role of opportunity recognition. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 26(2), 415-439. https://doi.org/10.1108/jrme-07-2023-0123
Maziriri, E. T., Nyagadza, B., & Maramura, T. C. (2024). Social entrepreneurial role models’ influence on social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent, and social entrepreneurial action in South Africa: the moderating role of moral obligation. Social Enterprise Journal, 20(3), 278 - 317. https://doi.org/10.1108/sej-12-2022-0114
Mohamed, M. E., Elshaer, I. A., Azazz, A. M., & Younis, N. S. (2023). Born not made: the impact of six entrepreneurial personality dimensions on entrepreneurial intention: evidence from healthcare higher education students. Sustainability, 15(3), 2266. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032266
Nguyen, T. T., Nguyen, D. T., Pham, Q. T. C., & Nguyen, L. T. (2025). Do perceived barriers always hinder social entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students? The roles of self-efficacy and entrepreneurship education. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/jarhe-01-2024-0007
Otache, I. (2025). The links between entrepreneurial education, self-efficacy, attitude and behaviour: A serial mediation model. The International Journal of Management Education, 23(2), 101146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101146
Pandey, D. L., Uprety, S. K., & Risal, N. (2023). Personality traits and their impact on the social entrepreneurial intentions of management students: a test of big five personality approach. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 12(1), 72. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-023-00342-8
Rasulong, I., Wahjono, S. I., & Rizal, S. (2025). Fueling Growth: Entrepreneurial Intention as a Catalyst for Village Enterprises: Memicu Pertumbuhan: Niat Kewirausahaan sebagai Katalisator Usaha Desa. JBMP (Jurnal Bisnis, Manajemen dan Perbankan), 11(1), 85-105. https://doi.org/10.21070/jbmp.v11i1.2123
Saoula, O., Shamim, A., Ahmad, M. J., & Abid, M. F. (2023). Do entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial motivation, and family support enhance entrepreneurial intention? The mediating role of entrepreneurial education. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 17(1), 20-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjie-06-2022-0055
Sousa-Filho, J. M. d., & Almeida, F. (2024). Factors affecting social entrepreneurial intentions in a Portuguese higher education institution. International Journal of Innovation Science, 16(2), 265-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijis-07-2022-0120
Staniewski, M., Awruk, K., Leonardi, G., & S?omski, W. (2025). Family communication and entrepreneurial success–The mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 100635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100635
Taneja, M., Kiran, R., & Bose, S. (2024). Assessing entrepreneurial intentions through experiential learning, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial attitude. Studies in Higher Education, 49(1), 98-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2223219
Ukil, M. I. (2025). Factors determining social entrepreneurial intention in a developing economy. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 16(1), 124-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2022.2143869
Utami, B., Ibrahim, M. M., Violin, V., Subroto, D. E., Destari, D., & Astuti, E. D. (2025). The Role of Entrepreneurship Education, Attitude Toward Risk and Digital Literacy on Entrepreneurial Intention Among Gen Z. Journal of Social Science and Business Studies, 3(1), 407-411. https://doi.org/10.61487/jssbs.v3i1.136
Wang, C., Zhang, X. -e., & Teng, X. (2023). How to convert green entrepreneurial orientation into green innovation: The role of knowledge creation process and green absorptive capacity. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 1260-1273. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3187
Wardana, L. W., Martha, J. A., Wati, A. P., Narmaditya, B. S., Setyawati, A., Maula, F. I., Mahendra, A. M., & Suparno. (2024). Does entrepreneurial self-efficacy really matter for entrepreneurial intention? Lesson from COVID-19. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186x.2024.2317231
Ye, L., Zhang, T., Zhang, Q., & Mi, Z. (2025). University Support for Student Entrepreneurship in China: Developing Entrepreneurial Capacity and Intentions. SAGE Open, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251337840
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Changliang Li, Radin Siti Aishah Radin A Rahman, Faridah Mydin Kutty
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All articles published by IJLTER are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivatives 4.0 International License (CCBY-NC-ND4.0).
