Social-cultural influence on university graduate's entrepreneurial intention: Evidence from a Portuguese university

This study examines the socio-cultural factors influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of 339 students who have graduated from a Portuguese university. Using logistic regression, it investigates the impact of role models, perceived social norms, and entrepreneurial capabilities on graduates' intentions of becoming entrepreneurs. Results indicate that knowing an entrepreneur, creativity, and opportunity recognition are significant predictors of entrepreneurial intentions, while family background has minimal impact. These results suggest that socio-cultural factors play a critical role in shaping entrepreneurial aspirations, with external influences, such as friends’ attitudes and opportunity recognition skills, driving entrepreneurial intent more than family entrepreneurship. The study contributes to entrepreneurship theory by highlighting key external and internal factors, and to policy by underlying the importance of promoting entrepreneurial education, reducing gender disparities, and creating supportive environments to foster entrepreneurship among graduates.