Demystifying the Black Box: A Serial Multiple Mediation Examination of Antecedents Shaping Entrepreneurial Intentions Among Youth

Individual entrepreneurial intention (EI) plays a spectacular role in the foundation of new companies, which in turn helps economic progress.This study tests a serial mediation model to unravel the mechanism of how locus of control (LoC) influences EI among 263 (214 Males, 49 Females) polytechnic students in India, with social capital (SC) and need for achievement (N-Ach) as sequential mediators.Data was gathered by employing purposive sampling techniques.Results of structural equation modeling (SEM) reveals LoC has a significant positive direct effect on EI.Further, LoC indirectly impacts EI through separate mediating effects of SC and N-Ach.Interestingly, a significant serial mediation of SC and N-Ach is also noted, elucidating the interconnected dynamics.Finally, certain recommendations with potential implications for vocational education professionals and policymakers are presented.