Abstract
While the current global context of successive economic and health crises are punishing the economies of different countries in the world, it is particularly relevant to explore the business intentions of young university students, as potential entrepreneurs of opportunity. This matter is of the utmost importance, as it helps to facilitate the implementation of measures that can ensure the future recovery of the economy and the creation of new businesses. The objective of this paper is to study the institutional and psychological antecedents of entrepreneurial intention and the role of gender. The theory of planned behaviour is applied to assess how personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control can affect students′ intention of becoming an entrepreneur. In addition, organizational support and institutional barriers are tested as potentially significant antecedents of entrepreneurial intention, along with the influence of gender. The research carried out was based on survey responses from a sample of 740 students of economics, communications, and education at an Ecuadorian university. The research propositions were tested using a partial least squares approach. Results indicate that behaviour towards entrepreneurship does not change in relation to gender. In addition, personal attitudes and perceived behavioural control regarding entrepreneurship are positively related to students′ entrepreneurial intention. Organizational support is also found to be important for generating entrepreneurial intention. The paper adds to the current knowledge base on entrepreneurial intention by analysing the individual and joint influence of the principal elements of the theory of planned behaviour, as well as organizational support and institutional barriers on entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, the research provides a useful perspective on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention in an unexplored context such as Ecuador, by responding to the call focusing on entrepreneurial intention in different regions, cultures, and contexts.
Highlights
There is a broad consensus on the multiple benefits of entrepreneurship and the start-up of new businesses; they include economic development, job creation, increased productivity, innovation, dynamic growth of the economy, and social well-being [1,2]
21 years old (55.0%), the second largest group comprises those between 21–23 years old (33.6%), while the rest are over 23 years old (11.3%)
In terms of their chosen degree, respondents are divided between studies in Business Administration and Management (28.5%), Communication Sciences
Summary
There is a broad consensus on the multiple benefits of entrepreneurship and the start-up of new businesses; they include economic development, job creation, increased productivity, innovation, dynamic growth of the economy, and social well-being [1,2]. Developed and somewhat less developed countries promote entrepreneurship as a formula for securing these advantages [3,4]. In this context, the university has taken on a central role as a driver of opportunity entrepreneurship and a source. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8475; doi:10.3390/ijerph17228475 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
