Empathetic concern and social entrepreneurial intention: a moderated mediation model of social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived cultural support

Purpose This study aims to explore whether social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE) mediates the empathetic concern (EC)–social entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs) relationship. In addition, drawing on institutional theory, the authors propose that the EC–SESE–SEI relationship is contingent upon perceptions of cultural support (PCS) towards social entrepreneurship in a society. Design/methodology/approach Data from 232 Taiwanese business and management undergraduates were used to test the proposed relationships. Findings SESE was found to mediate the relationship between EC and SEI. However, cultural support towards social entrepreneurship in society had a negative moderating effect on the EC–SESE–SEI relationship, suggesting that the EC–SESE–SEI relationship was stronger under conditions of low, rather than high PCS. Originality/value This paper provides further insights into not only the link between EC and SEI but also the conditions under which EC is translated into SEI. It also enhances the recent limited knowledge about how context and cultural attitudes and values towards social entrepreneurship shapes SEI.