Predicting Entrepreneurial Career Intentions: Values and the Theory of Planned Behavior. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gorgievski, Marjan J.; Stephan, Ute; Laguna, Mariola; Moriano, Juan Antonio
• Is Part Of: Journal of career assessment. Volume 26:Number 3(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 457
• Page End: 475
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: entrepreneurial intentions -- entrepreneurship -- Europe -- self-efficacy -- theory of human values -- theory of planned behavior -- values; Vocational guidance -- Periodicals; 331.702
• DOI: 10.1177/1069072717714541
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1069-0727

Abstract

Integrating predictions from the theory of human values with the theory of planned behavior (TPB), our primary goal is to investigate mechanisms through which individual values are related to entrepreneurial career intentions using a sample of 823 students from four European countries. We find that openness and self-enhancement values relate positively to entrepreneurial career intentions and that these relationships are partly mediated by attitudes toward entrepreneurship, self-efficacy, and, to a lesser extent, by social norms. Values and TPB constructs partially mediated cross-country differences in entrepreneurial intentions. Spanish students showed lower entrepreneurial intentions as compared to Dutch, German, and Polish students, which could be traced back to lower self-enhancement values (power and achievement), less positive attitudes toward entrepreneurship, and differences in social norms.