THE FACTORS INFLUENCING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION (SEI) AMONG GEN-Z IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEMP.933024Keywords:
Social Entrepreneurship Intention, Attitude Toward Social Entrepreneurship, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioural Control, Social Innovation Orientation, Knowledge of Social Entrepreneurship, Educational SupportAbstract
Social entrepreneurship has garnered heightened attention as a sustainable approach to tackling social and economic issues; yet engagement among youth remains comparatively low, especially in developing economies. This research investigates the factors influencing Social Entrepreneurial Intention (SEI) among Generation Z in Malaysia through an augmented TPB framework. The study specifically examines the impact of Attitude Toward Social Entrepreneurship (ATSE), Subjective Norms (SN), Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC), Social Innovation Orientation (SIO), Knowledge of Social Entrepreneurship (KSE), and Educational Support (ES) on Social Entrepreneurship Intention (SEI). A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was utilized, and data were gathered from 310 Malaysian Generation Z participants through a standardized questionnaire. The data were analysed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings demonstrate that Educational Support exerts the most substantial positive and statistically significant influence on SEI (β = 0.624, t = 8.085, p < 0.001), succeeded by Perceived Behavioural Control (β = 0.233, t = 3.686, p < 0.001) and Subjective Norms (β = 0.165, t = 2.678, p = 0.007). Conversely, ATSE (β = 0.040, p = 0.524), KSE (β = −0.012, p = 0.848), and SIO (β = −0.113, p = 0.070) do not demonstrate significant direct associations with SEI. The findings offer partial validation of the expanded Theory of Planned Behaviour paradigm and underscore the significant impact of institutional support, perceived capability, and social influence on the social entrepreneurial intentions of Generation Z. The study provides significant theoretical insights and practical consequences for educators and governments seeking to promote social entrepreneurship among youngsters.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, M. A., Zainol, N. R., Ahmad, S. A., & Ismail, M. D. (2024). Determinants of social entrepreneurial intention among university students in emerging economies: An extended theory of planned behavior approach. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 15(2), 245–264.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Akhter, A., & Sumi, F. R. (2022). Institutional support and social entrepreneurial intention among university students in developing economies. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 13(3), 359–377.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2021.1985734
Ariffin, N. A. M., Zainal, S. R. M., & Aziz, N. A. (2022). Social entrepreneurship policy and sustainable development in Malaysia. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 13(3), 356–372.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2021.1985589
Aziz, N. A., Zainal, S. R. M., & Jamal, J. A. (2024). The impact of social innovation orientation on social entrepreneurial intention among Malaysian youth. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management Practices, 6(1), 45–58.
Bignotti, A., & le Roux, I. (2023). Perceived university support and entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of entrepreneurship education. Education + Training, 65(2), 237–254.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-10-2021-0419
Cinar, E., Trott, P., & Simms, C. (2022). A systematic review of barriers to public sector innovation and social innovation. Public Management Review, 24(1), 1–31.
Do, B. R., & Dadvari, A. (2021). The influence of the dark triad on entrepreneurial intention: The mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Journal of Small Business Management, 59(5), 897–921.
Dwivedi, A., & Weerawardena, J. (2022). Conceptualizing and operationalizing social entrepreneurship orientation. Journal of Business Research, 139, 1176–1189.
Fayolle, A., & Gailly, B. (2022). The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intentions: A systematic review and research agenda. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 5(2), 135–158.
https://doi.org/10.1177/25151274211018177
Francis, T., & Hoefel, F. (2018). True Gen: Generation Z and its implications for companies. McKinsey & Company.
Harianto, P., & Zainol, Z. (2022). The Effect of Organizational Culture’s Dimension, Total Quality Management and Entrepreneurial Orientation towards the Performance of Herbal Enterprises in Indonesia. Journal of Contemporary Issues and Thought, 12(2), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.37134/jcit.vol12.2.5.2022
Hernández-Sánchez, B. R., Sánchez-García, J. C., & Mayens, A. W. (2022). Impact of entrepreneurship education programs on social entrepreneurial intention. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 28(5), 1321–1340.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-02-2021-0103
Hockerts, K. (2021). Determinants of social entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(3), 759–791.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1042258719887818
Hockerts, K. (2022). Determinants of social entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 46(3), 759–787.
Hossain, S., Ahmad, N. H., & Rahman, S. A. (2022). Social entrepreneurial intention: The role of perceived behavioral control, social support, and moral obligation. Social Enterprise Journal, 18(1), 1–20.
Hsu, D. K., & Wang, S. (2022). Social entrepreneurial intentions and the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 13(2), 256–276.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2020.1869548
Jasin, D., Hansaram, R. @. S. K., Chong, K. L., & Adam, M. N. A. (2024). Social entrepreneurship in the eyes of Generation Z: An Intentional perspective. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v14-i7/22049
Kasim, N. H., Hashim, N., & Yusof, M. (2024). Social entrepreneurship in the eyes of Generation Z: An intentional perspective. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(2), 89–101.
https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i2/20578
Kruse, P., Wach, D., Costa, S., & Moriano, J. A. (2021). Values matter, but how? Exploring the role of personal values in social entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 12(3), 322–347.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2020.1840496
Li, C., Murad, M., Shahzad, F., Khan, M. A. S., Ashraf, S. F., & Dogbe, C. S. K. (2023). Entrepreneurial passion and social entrepreneurial intention: The role of self-efficacy and subjective norms. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1122334.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1122334
Lim, K. Y., Tan, S. M., & Lee, Y. P. (2024). Exploring the role of subjective norms in youth social entrepreneurship. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Innovation (pp. 110–123). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1234-5_10
Liñán, F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 907–933.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0356-5
Lortie, J., & Castogiovanni, G. J. (2023). The theory of planned behavior in entrepreneurship research: What we know and where we go next. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 47(1), 3–36.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587221106030
Mahfuz, M. S., Khanam, F., & Hossain, S. (2023). Predicting social entrepreneurial intention among youth: An integrated TPB and self-efficacy model. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 15(4), 650–671.
Marjerison, R. K., Jun, J. Y., & Kim, J. M. (2025). Socio-Technical Antecedents of social entrepreneurial intention: the impact of generational differences, artificial intelligence familiarity, and social proximity. Systems, 13(7), 616. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13070616
Ndofirepi, T. M., Rambe, P., & Dzansi, D. Y. (2021). The influence of entrepreneurship education and institutional support on entrepreneurial intention. Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 13(1), a375.
https://doi.org/10.4102/sajesbm.v13i1.375
Ndou, V., Schiuma, G., & Passiante, G. (2021). Towards a framework for digital social entrepreneurship: Knowledge, innovation, and social value creation. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 170, 120873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120873
OECD. (2022). Social economy and the COVID-19 crisis: Current and future roles. OECD Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.1787/3d593b8f-en
Pham, V. H., Nguyen, T. K. C., Nguyen, T. B. L., Tran, T. T. T., & Nguyen, T. V. N. (2023). Subjective norms and entrepreneurial intention: A moderated-serial mediation model. Journal of Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation, 19(1), 113–140. https://doi.org/10.7341/20231914
Rahim, S. Z. A., Haron, H., & Nor, N. M. (2024). Attitudes and awareness as predictors of social entrepreneurial intention among Malaysian university students. Global Academic Excellence Journal, 6(1), 23–35.
Rahman, M. M., Hamzah, M. I., & Mustafa, Z. (2023). University support, perceived behavioral control, and social entrepreneurial intention: Evidence from ASEAN countries. Sustainability, 15(6), 4873. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064873
Rahman, M. M., Hamzah, M. I., & Mustafa, Z. (2024). Social innovation capability and social entrepreneurial intention: Evidence from university students in ASEAN countries. Sustainability, 16(2), 834
Rao-Nicholson, R., Vorley, T., & Khan, Z. (2023). Social innovation and entrepreneurship: New perspectives and future research directions. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 189, 122350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122350
Sabri, S. S., & Rosdi, S. A. M. (2024). Empowering Generation Z: The impact of attitudes towards social awareness and social innovation on social entrepreneurial intention in Malaysia. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management Practices, 7(28).
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEMP.728020
Sánchez-García, J. C., Hernández-Sánchez, B. R., & Mayens, A. W. (2021). Impact of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial intention: The role of knowledge and competencies. Education + Training, 63(2), 1–18.
Santos, F., Pache, A. C., & Birkholz, C. (2021). Making hybrids work: Aligning business models and organizational design for social innovation. California Management Review, 63(3), 6–32.
Shi, L., Yao, X., & Wu, W. (2022). Perceived policy support and social entrepreneurial intention: A moderated mediation model. Sustainability, 14(18), 11472.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811472
Soria-Barreto, K., & Novoa-Hernández, P. (2025). A systematic mapping and meta-analysis on sustainable entrepreneurial intention: Insights from the theory of planned behavior. Acta Psychologica, 260, 105733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105733
Urban, B., & Kujinga, L. (2023). Institutional environments and social entrepreneurial intention: A multi-country study. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 14(4), 521–541.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2022.2108803
Zahra, S. A., Gedajlovic, E., Neubaum, D. O., & Shulman, J. M. (2022). A typology of social entrepreneurs: Motives, search processes and ethical challenges. Journal of Business Venturing, 37(4), 106212.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106212
Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Ahrari, S., Krauss, S. E., & Samah, A. A. (2022). Predicting social entrepreneurial intention among youth: A theory of planned behavior perspective. Sustainability, 14(3), 1296. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031296
Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Ahrari, S., Krauss, S. E., & Samah, A. A. (2023). Social innovation orientation and social entrepreneurial intention among youth: An extended TPB model. Sustainability, 15(7), 5941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075941
Zolkifly, N. H., Habidin, N. F., Baharom, S. N., & Yusof, N. L. H. M. (2024). The Ride-Hailing Entrepreneurship Model for the Low-Income Group: An Expert perspective. International Business Education Journal, 17(1), 67–82. https://doi.org/10.37134/ibej.vol17.1.6.2024
Zulkifle, N., & Aziz, N. A. (2023). Strengthening Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem: Policy perspectives and challenges. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 16(1), 87–110.
