A influência de fatores contextuais e individuais nas intenções empreendedoras de estudantes de cursos da área de negócios / Antonio Vicente Tavares de Souza Junior

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the influence of contextual and individual factors on the entrepreneurial intentions of students of business courses. For that, descriptive research with a quantitative approach was carried out. Data were collected through a questionnaire applied in loco to 229 freshmen of the 1st year of courses in the business area (Accounting Sciences, Administration and Economics). Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, measurement model and Structural Equation Model (SEM). It was possible to verify that, in the context studied, contextual factors such as Education (EDU) have a positive relationship with individual factors such as Personal Attitudes (PA) with 5.5%, followed by the Business Environment (AN) which explains the Subjective Norms (NS) with 3.4%. On the other hand, Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI) are explained with 68.0% (R2) by personal factors (personal attitudes, subjective norms and behavioral control). Accordingly, it can be inferred that: (i) education is a positive antecedent of personal attitudes; (ii) the business environment is a positive antecedent of subjective norms; (iii) on the other hand, public policies do not have positive relationship with the perceived behavioral control of students. It was also identified that personal attitudes, perceived behavioral control, except for subjective norms, are fundamental elements for the investigated students to develop entrepreneurial intentions. Thus, it is concluded that sociocultural aspects are mediators of psychological factors and exert positive and significant effects on the entrepreneurial career intentions of higher education students, with implications for public and university policy that should promote the development of competences for a culture of entrepreneurship.