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How Entrepreneurship Education and Social Capital Promote Nascent Entrepreneurial Behaviours: The Mediating Roles of Entrepreneurial Passion and Self-Efficacy

Author

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  • Wenjun Cai

    (School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

  • Jibao Gu

    (School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

  • Jianlin Wu

    (School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei 230026, China)

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education and social capital have been addressed in entrepreneurship literature. However, the intervening mechanism under which these two factors influence nascent entrepreneurial behaviours remains underdeveloped. Using the data of 623 graduate students in China, this study investigates the influence of entrepreneurship education and social capital on nascent entrepreneurial behaviours, and examines the mediating roles of entrepreneurial passion and self-efficacy (ESE). The results indicate that entrepreneurship education and social capital promote nascent entrepreneurial behaviours through the intervening mechanisms of entrepreneurial passion and ESE. The results suggest that entrepreneurial behaviours must be developed through psychological mechanisms, including emotion and cognition. This study also provides practical implications regarding how to promote students’ entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjun Cai & Jibao Gu & Jianlin Wu, 2021. "How Entrepreneurship Education and Social Capital Promote Nascent Entrepreneurial Behaviours: The Mediating Roles of Entrepreneurial Passion and Self-Efficacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11158-:d:652643
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    3. Andrea Greven & Thorsten Beule & Denise Fischer-Kreer & Malte Brettel, 2025. "Noneconomic public value creation by private ventures: scale development and empirical validation in the academic entrepreneurship context," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1524-1566, August.
    4. Rong Wang & Rubing Liu, 2024. "Factors influencing female students’ entrepreneurial intention in vocational colleges: A multi-group analysis based on household income," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Vahid Aliabadi & Pouria Ataei & Saeed Gholamrezai, 2024. "The Prediction of Entrepreneurial Alertness Among Rural Cooperatives Based on Social Capital and Entrepreneurial Passion," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, September.
    6. Shahrokh Nikou & Jozsef Mezei & Candida Brush & Birgitte Wraae, 2022. "Factors Influencing Entrepreneurship Educators’ Pedagogical Choices—A Configurational Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, September.
    7. Bo Liang & Yali Xiong & Jin Yang & Anya Li & Yunqi Yang, 2024. "The Impact of Social Capital on College Students’ Entrepreneurial Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    8. Chen, Danni & Gong, Le & He, Zhonghui, 2026. "Fit for ventures: how exercise participation fuels entrepreneurial entry–a dual lens of social and psychological capital," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Ching Yin Ip & Tingna Zhuge & Yu Shan Chang & Ting-Huei Huang & Yin-Lin Chen, 2022. "Exploring the Determinants of Nascent Social Entrepreneurial Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    10. Michaela Carni & Tamar Gur & Yossi Maaravi, 2024. "Entrepreneurs’ Social Capital in Overcoming Business Challenges: Case Studies of Seven Greentech, Climate Tech and Agritech Startups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-26, September.
    11. Veronika Pereseina, 2025. "Sustainable Purpose- and Passionpreneurship: New-Age Lifestyle or a Necessity for Sustainable Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    12. Zheng Li & Xinghua Wang & Kejun Zhang & Tian Zheng & Jianhua Zhou & Taghreed Ali Alsudais & Xiaotong Zhi, 2025. "Exploring the influence of educational capital on college students’ entrepreneurial performance: a moderated multi-mediation model approach," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    13. Wassim J. Aloulou & Eidah A. Algarni & Veland Ramadani & Mathew (Mat) Hughes, 2023. "Passionate to be a social entrepreneur in Saudi Arabia: A moderated mediation analysis of social entrepreneurial intention," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(2), pages 698-712, April.

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