Exploring the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intentions among Mongolian university students: The mediating effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy

Increasing attention has been given to the development of student entrepreneurship, with higher education institutions prioritizing the cultivation of entrepreneurial skills among students. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the relationship between university students' entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention. The research involved a sample of 337 undergraduate students from the Business School at the National University of Mongolia. To investigate the suggested hypotheses and produce insightful findings, the study employed factor appropriateness and reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and covariance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-CB-SEM). The findings revealed a positive correlation between students' entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, despite the relatively moderate effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, the study demonstrated that entrepreneurial passion favorably influences entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Additionally, the results indicated that entrepreneurial self-efficacy fully mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of fostering entrepreneurial passion and enhancing entrepreneurial self-efficacy to strengthen students’ entrepreneurial motivation.