Determinants of entrepreneurial intention among B40 women in Sabah, Malaysia

Due to the importance of entrepreneurship to national economy, it is necessary to understand the driving factors of entrepreneurial intention among B40 women. From an individual-level context, this study investigates the effects of attitude towards entrepreneurship, family support and entrepreneurial self-efficacy through the mediation of perceived desirability and perceived feasibility on entrepreneurial intention of B40 women in Sabah, Malaysia. This quantitative study used a sample of 134 respondents selected by purposive sampling method from among the B40 women residing in Sabah. Findings showed that all research hypotheses were supported with positive and significant effects of attitude towards entrepreneurship, family support and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on perceived desirability and perceived feasibility as well as the mediating effect of perceived desirability and perceived feasibility on entrepreneurial intention. Besides that, perceived desirability and perceived feasibility were both significant mediators to the relationships of attitude towards entrepreneurship, family support and entrepreneurial self-efficacy with entrepreneurial intention. Overall, the research model presented a predictive accuracy of 54.5%, 63.8% and 60.9% to explain variance in perceived desirability, perceived feasibility and entrepreneurial intention respectively. The findings of this study have significant implications for empowering B40 women by highlighting the critical determinants of entrepreneurial intention, such as fostering a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, strengthening family support systems, and enhancing entrepreneurial self-efficacy. These insights can guide policymakers, educators, and organizations in designing targeted interventions and support programs to promote entrepreneurship among B40 women, ultimately contributing to their socioeconomic upliftment and self-reliance.