Exploring the relationship between perceived behavioral control and entrepreneurial intention of students - The mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation

Abstract

Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in the economic growth of a country. However, the current situation of entrepreneurship in Vietnam is facing significant challenges in maintaining and operating businesses after its establishment. The root cause lies in the ineffective sustainability of entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, the objective of the study is to explore the role of Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) and Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) in strengthening the Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI) of students based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Applying the convenience sampling method, the study collected 371 valid responses. A Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is applied to the EI model. The research findings demonstrate the impact of PBC on EI through the mediating role of EO. Additionally, this result contributes to the theoretical framework of entrepreneurial intention and affirms the importance of EO in strengthening individuals’ self-efficacy perceptions. These analyses provide deeper insights into how students actively develop their mindset and reinforce their understanding of entrepreneurial behavioral control abilities.