SELF-EFFICACY, SUBJECTIVE NORM, AND PERCEIVED BEHAVIOURALCONTROL AS PREDICTORS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ENGAGEMENT: THEMODERATING ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION

Abstract

Despite increasing investment in entrepreneurship education and youth empowerment
programmes in Nigeria, entrepreneurial engagement remains relatively low, limiting the
contribution of entrepreneurship to employment generation and economic development.
While previous studies have largely focused on entrepreneurial intention, limited
attention has been given to the psychosocial factors that drive actual entrepreneurial
engagement. This study therefore investigates self-efficacy, subjective norm, and
perceived behavioural control as predictors of entrepreneurial engagement, with a
particular focus on the moderating role of entrepreneurial intention. A cross-sectional
survey design was employed, and data were collected from 272 SMEs owners and
managers using structured questionnaires. Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS
Version 4) was used to test the direct and moderating relationships among the constructs.
The findings reveal that entrepreneurial intention, perceived behavioural control, selfefficacy, and subjective norm significantly and positively predict entrepreneurial
engagement. Entrepreneurial intention emerged as the strongest predictor of
engagement, emphasizing the importance of commitment and readiness to act. Perceived
behavioural control significantly strengthens the intention–engagement relationship,
while self-efficacy negatively moderates this relationship, suggesting that extremely high
confidence may reduce reliance on intention when engaging in entrepreneurship.
Subjective norm positively affects engagement but does not significantly moderate the
intention–engagement link. The model explains 61.2% of the variance in entrepreneurial
engagement, indicating substantial predictive power. The study concludes that
entrepreneurial engagement is shaped by a combination of individual capabilities, social
influences, and personal intention.