The Influence of Institutional Support on Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study examines the influence of external support systems—family support (FS), social capital (SC), and government support (GS)—on entrepreneurial intention (EI), with entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) as a mediator. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, the research proposes an integrated model to assess both direct and mediated pathways. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey of 450 university students in Gujranwala, Pakistan, was conducted using validated scales. Results confirmed all hypotheses: FS, SC, and GS had significant direct effects on EI (H1–H3), with SC exhibiting the strongest impact. ESE emerged as the strongest predictor of EI (H7) and fully mediated the relationships between all three support systems and EI (H8–H10). Notably, social capital showed the highest indirect effect (β = 0.19), underscoring the pivotal role of networks in fostering entrepreneurial confidence and intention. The study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by unifying fragmented insights into support systems, highlighting ESE’s central mediating role, and offering practical implications for policymakers and educators in emerging economies. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and cultural specificity, suggesting avenues for future longitudinal and cross-cultural research.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Intention, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, Family Support, Social Capital, Government Support, Mediation Analysis.