Online and Face-to-Face Social Networks and Dispositional Affectivity. How to Promote Entrepreneurial Intention in Higher Education Environments to Achieve Disruptive Innovations? | JoVE Visualize

Online and Face-to-Face Social Networks and Dispositional Affectivity. How to Promote Entrepreneurial Intention in Higher Education Environments to Achieve Disruptive Innovations?

Héctor Pérez-Fernández¹, Natalia Martín-Cruz¹, Juan B Delgado-García²

¹Department of Business and Marketing, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.

Frontiers in Psychology|January 4, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Positive dispositional affectivity and both online and face-to-face social networks significantly boost entrepreneurial intentions in university students. Negative affectivity showed no impact, while social networks were influenced by positive affectivity.

Area of Science:

Social Sciences
Psychology
Business and Economics

Background:

Entrepreneurial intention is crucial for disruptive innovation, yet current cognitive models fall short in promoting it among university students, especially in the digital age.
Understanding the role of social and psychological factors is vital for fostering entrepreneurship, particularly in the early stages of startup development.
Existing research on entrepreneurial intention needs to incorporate the influence of social networks and affective states, especially in the context of digital transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the role of social networks (face-to-face and online) and psychological factors (positive and negative dispositional affectivity) in the development of entrepreneurial intentions among university students.
To analyze the mediating effect of social networks on the relationship between dispositional affectivity and entrepreneurial intention.
To contribute to the literature on entrepreneurship, affect, social networks, and disruptive innovation.

Main Methods:

Utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data from 589 higher education students in Spain.
Applied network theory to assess the impact of social networks on entrepreneurial intention.
Incorporated affective congruency theory to examine the influence of dispositional affectivity on entrepreneurial intention.

Main Results:

Positive dispositional affectivity, online social networks, and face-to-face social networks were found to significantly impact entrepreneurial intention.
Negative dispositional affectivity did not show a significant influence on entrepreneurial intention.
Positive dispositional affectivity positively influenced both online and face-to-face social networks, which in turn partially mediated the relationship with entrepreneurial intention.

Conclusions:

Positive dispositional affectivity directly and indirectly influences entrepreneurial intention through both online and face-to-face social networks.
Social networks, particularly online ones, play a critical role in shaping entrepreneurial intentions in the digital era.
Fostering positive affectivity and strengthening social networks can enhance entrepreneurial intentions and potentially drive disruptive innovation among university students.