Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intention: Examining the mediating role of self-efficacy domains among university students

Purpose This study investigates the effect of emotional intelligence on students’ entrepreneurial intention through the mediating roles of self-efficacy components. Methodology The study employed an explanatory research design using a quantitative research approach. Data were collected from a sample of 248 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS4 to test the proposed relationships among the study variables. Findings The results demonstrate that emotional intelligence significantly predicts perceived control, perceived competence, but not perceived persistence. The finding also indicated that perceived control and perceived competence positively influence entrepreneurial intention, whereas perceived persistence has a negative influence. The mediation analysis further reveals that emotional intelligence indirectly enhances entrepreneurial intention through perceived competence and perceived control, but not through perceived persistence.