Gendered Perceptions of Spousal Support and Entrepreneurial Intention: Evidence from Nigeria

In this study, we examined the impact of spousal support on the well-being and entrepreneurial self-efficacy of potential entrepreneurs and the consequent effects on their entrepreneurial intentions. Our goal was to understand how potential entrepreneurs might form an entrepreneurially-positive mindset and whether the relationships driving that mindset might differ between married women and married men. Using structural equation modeling, we tested our model on a sample of 288 married and employed individuals in Nigeria. We find strong evidence of a positive relationship between an individual’s sense of subjective well-being and entrepreneurial self-efficacy – a relationship that in turn positively impacts the likelihood of entrepreneurial intentions. Spousal support – our presumed catalyst of this three-factor relationship – also plays a significant role, but only for women. The results of our study validate three key relationships that catalyze entrepreneurial action and explore the relationship spousal support and gender may play in their interaction. We highlight the importance of well-being in predicting entrepreneurial behavior and conclude with suggestions for further research.