The Mediating Role of Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in The Effect of General Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurıal Intention: A Study on Unıversity Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63556/tisej.2026.1972Keywords:
Entrepreneurial intention, general self-efficacy, attitudes toward artificial intelligence, university students, mediationAbstract
In today's environment, where digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly advancing, understanding the effects of individuals' self-efficacy and attitudes toward AI on entrepreneurial intention has become increasingly important. In this context, the present study examines the mediating role of attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) in the relationship between university students' general self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention. Convenience sampling was employed in the study. Data were collected through online questionnaire from students studying at two public universities during the spring semester of the 2024–2025 academic year. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was performed using the SmartPLS 4 software to analyze the data. The findings indicate that general self-efficacy has a significant and positive effect on entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, general self-efficacy was found to positively influence individuals' attitudes toward AI. Positive attitudes toward AI were also identified as a significant predictor of entrepreneurial intention. The results further reveal that attitudes toward AI partially mediate the relationship between general self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention. These findings suggest that entrepreneurial intention is shaped not only by individual psychological factors but also by perceptions of technology. Overall, the findings indicate that enhancing general self-efficacy and fostering positive attitudes toward AI contribute to strengthening entrepreneurial intention.
References
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Altunışık, R., Coşkun, R., Bayraktaroğlu, S., & Yıldırım, E. (2012). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri: SPSS uygulamalı (7. Baskı). Sakarya Yayıncılık.
An, N. T. (2026). Artificial Intelligence Perceptions and Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediating Roles of Entrepreneurial Attitude and Self-Efficacy. EJSMT. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejsmt.2026.2(3).06
Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 471–499. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466601164939
Aypay, A. (2010). Genel öz yeterlik ölçeği’nin (GÖYÖ) Türkçe’ye uyarlama çalışması. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(2), 113–131. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/92265
Bagale, G. S., Vandadi, V. R., Singh, D., Sharma, D. K., Garlapati, D. V. K., Bommisetti, R. K., Gupta, R. K., Setsiawan, R., Subramaniyaswamy, V., & Sengan, S. (2023). Small and medium-sized enterprises’ contribution in digital technology [Retracted article]. Annals of Operations Research, 326(Suppl 1), 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-021-04235-5
Bahadır, Ö., & Çakmak, A. F. (2018). Planlı davranış teorisi çerçevesinde girişimcilik niyetini etkileyen faktörler. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal, 6(1), 166–192. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v6i1.227
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman & Company.
Bandura, A., ve Wood, R. (1989). Social Cognitive Theory of Organizational Management. Academy of Management Review, 14(3), 361–384. https://doi.org/10.2307/258173
Bickley, S. J., Macintyre, A., & Torgler, B. (2024). Artificial intelligence and big data in sustainable entrepreneurship. Journal of Economic Surveys, 39(1), 103–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12611
Bilgiseven, E. B., & Kasımoğlu, M. (2020). Start-up girişimlerde girişimcilik niyeti üzerine faktörlerin analizi. Girişimcilik İnovasyon ve Pazarlama Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(7), 41–59. https://doi.org/10.31006/gipad.726625
Bird, B. (1988). Implementing entrepreneurial ideas: The case for intention. Academy of Management Review, 13(3), 442–453. https://doi.org/10.2307/258091
Cesur, D., & Köse, C. (2021). Dijital teknolojiye yönelik tutumların girişimcilik niyetindeki rolü: Z kuşağında bir araştırma. Biga İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 2(3), 252–270. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/2373100
Chong, L., Kotovsky, K., & Cagan, J. (2022). Are confident designers good teammates to artificial intelligence? A study of self-confidence, competence, and collaborative performance. International Design Conference, 2, 1531–1540. https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2022.155
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Cohen, J. (1988), Statistical Power Analysis For The Behavioral Sciences, Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ.
Çakan, M., & Akın, A. (2024). Yapay Zeka tutum ve değişime hazır olma: İki ölçek uyarlama çalışması. International Academic Journal, 8(2), 137–167. https://doi.org/10.35342/econder.1544898
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Demir, B., & Beyazhançer, R. (2024). İlköğretim matematik öğretmeni adaylarının yapay zekâ öz-yeterliklerinin bazı değişkenler açısından incelenmesi. Uluslararası Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Araştırma Dergisi, 11(113), 2393–2398. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14279357
Demirer, M. C., Çiftçi, G. E., & Yasım, Y. K. (2024). Yabancı uyruklu üniversite öğrencilerinin kültürel zekâlarının öz yeterlilik ve girişimcilik üzerine etkisi. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, 13(3), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.53478/yuksekogretim.1201019
Di Vaio, A., Palladino, R., Hassan, R., & Escobar, O. (2020). Artificial intelligence and business models in the sustainable development goals perspective: a systematic literature review. Journal of Business Research, 121, 283–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.019
Duong, C. D. (2025). AI literacy and higher education students’ digital entrepreneurial intention: A moderated mediation model of AI self-efficacy and digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Industry and Higher Education, 40(2), 242–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222251370089
Dursun, İ., & Alnıaçık, Ü. (2019). Likert ölçeklerinde etiketleme kararları: Kullanılan etiketler ölçüm sonuçlarına etkiler mi? Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 33, 148–196. https://doi.org/10.14520/adyusbd.549447
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Baabdullah, A. M., Ribeiro-Navarrete, S., Giannakis, M., Al-Debei, M. M., ... & Wamba, S. F. (2023). So what if ChatGPT wrote it? Multidisciplinary perspectives on opportunities, challenges and implications of generative conversational AI for research, practice and policy. International Journal of Information Management, 71, 102642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102642
Erkuş, A. (2013). Davranış bilimleri için bilimsel araştırma süreci. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Esmer, Y., & Yüksel, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence entrepreneurship: A conceptual research. Journal of Emerging Economies and Policy, 9(2), 180–187. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/joeep/article/1547460
Everitt, B. S. (1975). Multivariate analysis: The need for data, and othe problems. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 126(3), 237-240. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.126.3.237
Ferreira-Neto, M. N., de Carvalho Castro, J. L., de Sousa-Filho, J. M., & de Souza Lessa, B. (2023). The role of self-efficacy, entrepreneurial passion, and creativity in developing entrepreneurial intentions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1134618. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1134618
Fırat, İ. (2026). The effect of proactive personality on entrepreneurial intention among teachers: The mediating role of general self-efficacy and the moderating role of psychological well-being. Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi, 24(59), 331-375. https://doi.org/10.35408/comuybd.1676649
Garaika, H., & Margahana, H. (2019). Self-efficacy, self-personality and self-confidence on entrepreneurial intention: Study on young enterprises. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 22(1), 1–12.
Grassini, S. (2023). Development and validation of the AI Attitude Scale (AIAS-4): A brief measure of general attitude toward artificial intelligence. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1191628. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1191628
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(2), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
Holden, H., & Rada, R. (2011). Understanding the influence of perceived usability and technology self-efficacy on teachers’ technology acceptance. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 43(4), 343–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2011.10782576
Hong, J.-W. (2022). I was born to love AI: The influence of social status on AI self-efficacy and intentions to use AI. International Journal of Communication, 16, 172–191. https://doi.org/10.5210/ijoc.v16i0.17728
Ji, I., & Goo, J. (2021). Pre-Entrepreneurs’ Perception of the Technology Regime and Their Entrepreneurial Intentions in Korean Service Sectors. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7030179
Kılıç, S., & Yüksel, G. (2026). Positive schemas and their associations with well-being and psychopathology in Turkish college students. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2026.2708042
Kim, M.-Y. (2025). The effects of digital self-efficacy, perceived benefits of AI and social capital on attitude toward generative AI tools: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management, 10(6), 657–668. https://www.jisem-journal.com/article/
Kock, N., & Lynn, G. S. (2012). Lateral collinearity and misleading results in variance-based SEM: An illustration and recommendations. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 13(7), 546–580. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00302
Krejcie, R.V. and Morgan, D.W. (1970) Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Krueger, N. F., & Carsrud, A. L. (1993). Entrepreneurial intentions: applying the theory of planned behaviour. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 5(4), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985629300000020
Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00033-0
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79–122. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.102
Liñán, F., & Chen, Y.-W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 593–617. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00318.x
Liu, X., Lin, C., Zhao, G., & Zhao, D. (2019). Research on the effects of entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on college students’ entrepreneurial intention. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 869. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00869
Mert, M. (2024). YZ ve girişimciler. In G. Mert & R. Kök (Eds.), Teknoloji ve yenilikçilik odaklı girişimler (pp. 1–361). Artikel Akademi.
Mueller, S., & Dato-on, M. C. (2008). Gender-role orientation as a determinant of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1142/S108494670800082X
Mutlu, T. (2023). Yeni Dünya'da girişimcilik. In G. Durmuş & M. Seyhan (Eds.).
Mwaanga, C., Moyo,E., Chungu, K. (2023).University-related factors influencing technological entrepreneurial ıntentions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Students: A Comparative Study of Private and Public Universities. Emerging Markets Journal, 13(2), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.5195/emaj.2023.312
Nabi, G., Liñán, F., Krueger, N., Fayolle, A., & Walmsley, A. (2016). The impact of entrepreneurship education in higher education: A systematic review and research agenda. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 15(2), 281–307. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2015.0026
Naiseh, M., Babiker, A., Al-Shakhsi, S., Cemiloglu, D., Al-Thani, D., Montag, C., & Ali, R. (2025). Attitudes towards AI: The interplay of self-efficacy, well-being, and competency. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 10, 705–718. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-025-00486-2
Ndofirepi, T. M. (2022). The effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial self-identity on entrepreneurial goal intentions of female and male college students in Zimbabwe. Administrative Sciences, 12(4), 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12040180
Nkwei, E. S., Rambe, P., & Simba, A. (2023). Entrepreneurial intention: The role of the perceived benefits of digital technology. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 26(1), a4936. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v26i1.4936
Özler, N. D. E., Giderler, C., & Baran, H. (2017). Öz yeterlilik ve kontrol odağının bireylerin girişimcilik niyeti üzerindeki etkisini belirlemeye yönelik bir araştırma. Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi, 13(13), 736–747. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/ijmeb/article/744514
Pihie, Z. A. L., & Bagheri, A. (2013). Self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention: The mediation effect of self-regulation. Vocations and Learning, 6(3), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12186-013-9101-9
Prawira, J. J., & Hidayah, N. (2021). Pengaruh subjective norm, attitude toward behavior, dan self-efficacy terhadap entrepreneurial intention. Jurnal Manajerial dan Kewirausahaan, 3(3), 762–770. https://doi.org/10.24912/jmk.v3i3.13208
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants: Part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6.
Qiao, X., & Huang, J.-H. (2019). Effect of college students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intention: Career adaptability as a mediating variable. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 5(3), 305–313. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.5.3.305
Rahman, M. M., Rahaman, M. S., Moral, I. H., & Chowdhury, M. S. (2022). Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention of business graduates: Does artificial intelligence matter? In Proceedings of the International Conference on Fourth Industrial Revolution and Beyond 2021 (pp. xx–xx). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2445-3_8
Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Becker, J.-M. (2022). SmartPLS 4. SmartPLS. https://www.smartpls.com
Romero-Galisteo, R. P., González-Sánchez, M., Gálvez-Ruiz, P., Palomo-Carrión, R., Casuso-Holgado, M. J., & Pinero-Pinto, E. (2022). Entrepreneurial intention, expectations of success and self-efficacy in undergraduate students of health sciences. BMC Medical Education, 22, 679. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03731-x
Saki, Ş., & Köroğlu, M. A. (2024). Yapay zeka ve dijital teknolojilerin sosyal hizmet uygulamalarında kullanımı üzerine bir araştırma. International Journal of Social, Humanities and Administrative Sciences, 10(2), 149–171. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10897555
Samuel, J. (2023). Two keys for surviving the inevitable AI invasion. Above-AI. https://aboveai.substack.com/p/two-keys-for-surviving-the-inevitable
Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Hair, J. F. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modelling. In C. Homburg, M. Klarmann, & A. Vomberg (Eds.), Handbook of market research (pp. 1–47). Springer.
Satıcı, S. A., Okur, S., Yılmaz, F. B., & Grassini, S. (2025). Psychometric properties and Turkish adaptation of the Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale (AIAS-4): Evidence for construct validity. BMC Psychology, 13, 297. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02505-6
Scholz, U., Gutiérrez-Doña, B., Sud, S., & Schwarzer, R. (2002). Is general self-efficacy a universal construct? European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 18(3), 242–251. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.18.3.242
Schumpeter, J. A. (1934). The theory of economic development: An inquiry into profits, capital, credit, interest, and the business cycle. Harvard University Press.
Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized Self-Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston (Eds.), Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). NFER-NELSON.
Seo, H., Iqbal, A., & Rafique, S. (2024). Attitudes toward ai, ai self-efficacy, and ai adoption: a survey of media students in afghanistan and pakistan. Studies in Media, Journalism, and Communications, 2(2), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.32996/smjc.2024.2.2.4
Sharma, A., Goel, A., & Taneja, U. (2026). AI adoption and digital entrepreneurial intentions: A theory of planned behaviour and technology acceptance model approach. Technology in Society, 84, 103137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103137
Solórzano, S. S. S., Romero, J. M. P., Cueva, J. G. D., Montero, J. E. A., Campoverde, M. A. Z., Valarezo, M. M. L., Ninaquispe, J. C. M., Enriquez, B. G. A., & Ballesteros, M. A. A. (2024). Acceptance of artificial intelligence and its effect on entrepreneurial intention in foreign trade students: A mirror analysis. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00412-5
Sun, J., Shi, J., & Zhang, J. (2023). From entrepreneurship education to entrepreneurial intention: Mindset, motivation, and prior exposure. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 954118. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.954118
Sümbüloğlu, V., & Sümbüloğlu, K. (2000). Sağlık bilimlerinde araştırma yöntemleri. Hatipoğlu Yayınevi.
Şeşen, H., & Basım, H. N. (2012). Demografik faktörler ve kişiliğin girişimcilik niyetine etkisi: Spor bilimleri alanında öğrenim gören üniversite öğrencileri üzerine bir araştırma. Ege Akademik Bakış, 12(Özel sayı), 21–28.
Tefek, A., & Çakıcı, A. (2024). Aile yapısının girişimcilik eğilimi ve girişimcilik niyetine etkisi. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 33(1), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1337137
Varol, B. (2025). Artificial intelligence anxiety in nursing students: The impact of self-efficacy. Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 43(6), e01250. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001250
Wang, Y.-Y., & Chuang, Y.-W. (2024). Artificial intelligence self-efficacy: Scale development and validation. Education and Information Technologies, 29, 4785–4808. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12015-w
Xie, Y., & Wang, S. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship education enhances entrepreneurial intention through self-efficacy and university support. Scientific Reports, 15, 24079. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09545-3
Yıldız, E. (2024). SmartPLS ile yapısal eşitlik modellemesi: Reflektif ve formatif yapılar (3. baskı). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Yulastri, A., Susanto, P., Imran, M., Ganefri, G., Hidayat, H., Ardi, Z., Marwan, M., & Arita, S. (2026). Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention: A serial mediation model of entrepreneurial motivation and self-efficacy. Discover Sustainability, 7, 356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-02689-w
Zhao, H., Seibert, S. E., & Hills, G. E. (2005). The mediating role of self-efficacy in the development of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(6), 1265–1272. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.6.1265
Zhao, X., Lynch, J. G., & Chen, Q. (2010). Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1086/651257
Zou, Y., & Guo, Y. (2026). Seeing the spark or the storm? Exploring how AI usage shapes undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention. The International Journal of Management Education, 24(2), 101361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2026.101361
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Third Sector Social Economic Review
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
