Fostering Sustainable Development Through Women’s Entrepreneurship: Psychosocial Factors and Attitudinal Mediation in Colombian Higher Education

Abstract

University female entrepreneurship has seen significant growth in Colombia in recent years. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial factors that determine the entrepreneurial intent of Colombian university women, specifically analyzing how entrepreneurial attitude mediates the relationship between these factors and the intent to engage in entrepreneurship using a structural equation modeling approach (SEM). A total of 409 university students from various higher education institutions in Colombia participated by completing an online survey. The results demonstrated that extrinsic motivation (β = 0.178 moderate intensity), family environment (β = 0.127 moderate intensity), innovation (β = 0.462 very intense), and intrinsic motivation (β = 0.117 low intensity) positively influence entrepreneurial attitude, which in turn has a significant positive effect on the intent to engage in entrepreneurship (β = 0.709 very intense). Furthermore, innovation, extrinsic motivation, family environment, and intrinsic motivation indirectly influence entrepreneurial intent through their impact on attitude. In conclusion, this study provides a deeper understanding of the psychosocial mechanisms that drive female entrepreneurship in the Colombian university context and lays the groundwork for the design of educational programs and public policies that enhance the talent and entrepreneurial aspirations of women in higher education.

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