RT Journal Article
T1 Psychological capital and entrepreneurship: gender differences
A1 Villanueva-Flores, Mercedes
A1 Diaz-Fernandez, Mirta
A1 Hernández-Roque, Dara
A1 van Engen, Marloes
K1 Perceived behavioural control
K1 Subjective norms
K1 Entrepreneurial intention
K1 Gender
K1 Psychological capital
K1 Green OA
AB PurposeThis study aims to examine whether the psychological capital of male and female university students explains the intention to undertake entrepreneurism. Following Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour, the aim was to study whether perceived behavioural control and subjective norms influence entrepreneurial intention and if subjective norms moderate established relationships, in both genders.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling and analysis of variance was applied to test the hypotheses amongst students at a Spanish university.FindingsThe results showed that gender differences in psychological capital, in perceived behavioural control and in subjective norms existed between the male and female population, which explain gender differences in entrepreneurial intention. Similarly, subjective norms acted as a moderator in the relationship between psychological capital, the perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intention, with the moderating impact being higher on the female population.Practical implicationsThe results obtained in this paper indicate that developing perceived behavioural control and the psychological capital of university students in training programmes of male and female students helps to promote their entrepreneurial intention. Similarly, the results suggest that building a support network, for instance of family and groups of friends is key to fostering entrepreneurial intention, particularly for women.Originality/valueEntrepreneurship is key to the successful employability of current and future generations in the labour market. This study examined key antecedents of student’s entrepreneurial intention and how these are gendered. For both men and women (investing in) psychological capital is important. Informal social support was shown to play a key role in women’s entrepreneurial intention.
PB Emerald
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10433/16773
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10433/16773
LA en
NO Gender in Management: An International Journal Vol. 36 No. 3, 2021 pp. 410-429
NO Departamento de Organización de Empresa y Marketing
DS RIO
RD May 4, 2026