Academic, Family, and Peer Influence on Entrepreneurial Intention of Engineering Students

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the research literature on entrepreneurial intention (EI) of engineering students in an emerging economy. Through the lens of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB), we investigate the influence of academic curriculum, institutional support, family, and peer effects in fostering an intent to be self-employed among Indian engineering students. Data collected from 210 final-year engineering students were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling method. The antecedents of the TPB, namely, attitude toward entrepreneurship (ATE), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), demonstrated a favorable influence on EI. Whereas the regular academic curriculum seemed to have a negative influence on ATE, institutional support showed a positive effect. Both curriculum and academic support were found to have no significant impact on either PBC or SN. However, both family and peer influence revealed a strong positive relationship with all the antecedents of EI.