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Changes Regarding Entrepreneurial Intent Among Young Romanian Students in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Roxana Adriana Heteș

    (Department of Finance, Information Systems and Business Modelling, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Delia Anca Gabriela Gligor

    (Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Cecilia Nicoleta Jurcuț

    (Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Mariana Predișcan

    (Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

  • Roxana Nadina Bucurean

    (Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania)

Abstract

This study leverages the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to investigate the variations in entrepreneurial intent (EI) among Romanian students, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By examining the interactions between attitudes, social norms (SocNorms), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), as represented in the TPB framework, we aimed to uncover what factors promote or hinder students’ decisions to pursue entrepreneurship. We examined these relationships across two cohorts (2018 and 2023) using structural equation modeling (SEM) on data collected through an online survey from a total sample of 383 Romanian bachelor students. Our findings indicate that PBC is a significant predictor of EI for both cohorts; however, attitudes have shown a direct but reverse influence for the 2023 group. This cohort, faced with isolation, unemployment, and resource shortages, has adapted by cultivating an innovation and perseverance mindset, positioning entrepreneurship as a viable solution. This study is one of the few longitudinal comparative investigations of EI in Romania during a significant societal crisis, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of young entrepreneurs, which can inform educational strategies and policies designed to nurture a new generation of resilient entrepreneurs.

Suggested Citation

  • Roxana Adriana Heteș & Delia Anca Gabriela Gligor & Cecilia Nicoleta Jurcuț & Mariana Predișcan & Roxana Nadina Bucurean, 2025. "Changes Regarding Entrepreneurial Intent Among Young Romanian Students in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-30, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4600-:d:1658083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Magaji Abdullahi Usman & Xinbo Sun, 2022. "Global Pandemic and Entrepreneurial Intention: How Adversity Leads To Entrepreneurship," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    2. Anca Elena Lungu & Ioana Andreea Bogoslov & Eduard Alexandru Stoica & Mircea Radu Georgescu, 2021. "From Decision to Survival—Shifting the Paradigm in Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Renata Dana Nițu-Antonie & Emőke-Szidónia Feder & Vladimir Nițu-Antonie & Róbert-Károly György, 2023. "Predicting Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions among Romanian Students: A Mediated and Moderated Application of the Entrepreneurial Event Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Elena-Loreni Baciu & Delia Vîrgă & Theofild-Andrei Lazăr & Delia Gligor & Cecilia-Nicoleta Jurcuț, 2020. "The Association between Entrepreneurial Perceived Behavioral Control, Personality, Empathy, and Assertiveness in a Romanian Sample of Nascent Entrepreneurs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. António Porfírio, José & Augusto Felício, José & Carrilho, Tiago & Jardim, Jacinto, 2023. "Promoting entrepreneurial intentions from adolescence: The influence of entrepreneurial culture and education," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Elena-Aurelia Botezat & Alexandru Constăngioară & Anca-Otilia Dodescu & Ioana-Crina Pop-Cohuţ, 2022. "How Stable Are Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, May.
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