Psychosocial influence on entrepreneurial resilience among persons with disabilities in Malaysia: mediating role of entrepreneurial competencies

Persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Malaysia continue to experience limited participation in formal employment due to persistent structural barriers related to education, workplace accessibility, financing, and entrepreneurial support systems, prompting entrepreneurship to emerge as an alternative pathway for economic participation and self-sufficiency. However, sustaining entrepreneurial ventures under such constrained conditions remains challenging, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurial resilience. Motivated by this practical concern, the present study investigates how psychosocial factors comprising psychological elements (locus of control, self-efficacy, and personal perception) and social dimensions (education, social networks, and family and friends) influence entrepreneurial resilience, and whether entrepreneurial competencies (innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, and opportunity recognition) mediate this relationship.