Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial behavior among Master of Business Administration students

Passion as a central characteristic of entrepreneurs has gained credence in explaining entrepreneurial behaviors, yet there is still a lack of knowledge about the mechanisms that explain the effect of entrepreneurial passion. I extended the growing body of research on the entrepreneurial passion–entrepreneurial behavior relationship by focusing on the mediating role of self-efficacy. To test my hypotheses I used structural equation modeling to analyze data obtained from surveys completed by 307 Master of Business Administration students from 6 Chinese universities. Results show that the effect of entrepreneurial passion on entrepreneurial behavior was fully mediated by self-efficacy. This finding sheds light on the role of self-efficacy in transmitting the impact of entrepreneurial passion on entrepreneurial behavior, providing valuable evidence on how to promote entrepreneurial behavior. Limitations and directions for future research are presented.