EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF CONTEXTUAL FACTORS THROUGH PERCEIVED BEHAVIOURAL CONTROL ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION
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Abstract
This study examines the influence of contextual factors on entrepreneurial intention among university students in Zambia, with perceived behavioural control (PBC) serving as a mediating mechanism. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Institutional Theory, the study investigates how formal networks, informal networks, structural support, and educational support shape students’ entrepreneurial intentions. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from university students in Kitwe, Zambia. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in Jamovi.
The findings reveal that contextual factors significantly influence entrepreneurial intention through perceived behavioural control, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurial confidence in translating environmental support into entrepreneurial aspirations. The study further demonstrates that educational, structural, and social support mechanisms play a critical role in fostering entrepreneurial intention among students. This research contributes to entrepreneurship literature by extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour through the mediating role of perceived behavioural control, integrating TPB and Institutional Theory, and providing empirical evidence from Zambia, a context that remains underrepresented in entrepreneurial intention research. The findings offer important implications for policymakers, universities, and entrepreneurship support institutions seeking to promote youth entrepreneurship and graduate self-employment.
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