Revisiting Emotional Competencies and Entrepreneurial Intention: Exploring the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Entrepreneurial Attitude

Abstract

This study examined how emotional competencies (EC) and subjective norms (SN) affect entrepreneurial intentions (EI)
among undergraduate business students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An enhanced Theory of Planned Behavior was used to analyze EC's direct and indirect effects on EI through the antecedents of cognitive variables. The survey collected primary data from 351 undergraduate business students at ten public sector management science colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Structural equation modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS was used to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude. The findings indicated that EC strongly and significantly influenced EI and its cognitive variables, including entrepreneurial attitude (EA) and self-efficacy. However, the results did not show a direct
relationship between higher EC and stronger entrepreneurial intention, suggesting that emotional competencies may not
necessarily increase EI. The study implies that individuals with higher EC are more likely to become entrepreneurs because their cognitive abilities, which are linked to emotional competencies, are better. Entrepreneurship education programs should include EC focused material and methodology to develop undergraduate business students' entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors. According to the study, academics and policymakers should prioritize cognitive and emotional competencies to foster entrepreneurship and economic growth in the country.