Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions: A TPB multi-group analysis at factor and indicator level

•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are explained by perceived behavioral control.•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are explained by personal attitude.•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are not explained by subjective norms.•Gender differences within perc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European management journal 2014-10, Vol.32 (5), p.784-794
Main Authors: Maes, Johan, Leroy, Hannes, Sels, Luc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business education
Entrepreneurial intentions
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship
Forecasts
Gender
Gender differences
Gender differentiation
Indicators
Multi-group analysis
Organizational behavior
Preferences
Small and medium sized enterprises
Student attitudes
Students
Studies
Theory of Planned Behavior
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Summary:•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are explained by perceived behavioral control.•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are explained by personal attitude.•Gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions are not explained by subjective norms.•Gender differences within perceived behavioral control and personal attitude are investigated. Previous research suggests that diverse factors predict gender differences in entrepreneurial intent. Our paper integrates and expands on previous findings using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), including the deeper-level measurement model, allowing for a better understanding of the origin of differences. The results of a survey with business students indicate that the effect of gender on entrepreneurial intentions is mediated via personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control but not social norms. More precisely, vis-à-vis their male counterparts, women are more driven toward entrepreneurship by motives to ‘get organized’ (balance) that are less dominant in predicting personal attitude. Moreover, female students are somewhat less driven toward entrepreneurship by beliefs of internal control that are more dominant in predicting perceived control. Finally, while female students are also more motivated to comply with normative role models, this did not influence their entrepreneurial intentions over and above perceived behavioral control and personal attitude. We discuss both practical and theoretical implications of our findings.
ISSN:0263-2373
1873-5681
DOI:10.1016/j.emj.2014.01.001