How social support shapes entrepreneurial intentions: sequential gains in self-efficacy and attitude

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial attitude, and social support. The study also seeks to investigate the mediating impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial attitude (EA) on the relationship between entrepreneurial intention (EI) and social support (SS). Five hundred and thirty-eight Chinese college students were randomly selected and answered a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using linear regression and bootstrap. Results indicated that social support predicted self-efficacy (β = 0.783) and directly affected intention (β = 0.198). Self-efficacy (β = 0.813) and attitude (β = 0.636) predicted intention. Self-efficacy promoted attitude (β = 0.168) was also found. Furthermore, the chain mediation SS → ESE → EA → EI was significant. Finally, the model explained 77.8% of the variance of intention. In summary, social support helps facilitate entrepreneurial intention through the method of “Self-efficacy → attitude”, showing that universities strengthen support networks and ability experiences to transform entrepreneurial intention.