Entrepreneurial intention and its drivers among entrepreneurs, including third-age entrepreneurs : the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and the moderating roles of self-worth and perceived global health criss | |
| Author | Tad Hatchaleelaha |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.DBA-SOM-26-08 |
| Subject(s) | Entrepreneurship--Psychological aspects--Thailand Businesspeople--Psychology--Thailand Intention--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study investigates the key factors that shape entrepreneurial intention in Thailand across all age groups with a focus on third-age entrepreneurs – individuals aged 50 and above who are transitioning into entrepreneurship later in life. Using a mixed-methods design, the research integrates quantitative survey data from 277 participants and qualitative insights from 18 in depth interviews and 8 narrative interviews. The quantitative phase employed structural equation modelling to test the influence of attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, entrepreneurial education, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy was also examined as a meditator variable, while perceived global health crises and self-worth (a Thai value associated with social respect) were tested as moderating variables. The findings indicate that attitude toward entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial education, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy have significant positive effects on entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, entrepreneurial self-efficacy serves as a complementary mediator in the relationship between attitude towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. It also functions as an indirect-only mediator in the relationship between subjective norms and entrepreneurial intention, and as a complementary mediator in the relationship between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intention. However, subjective norms were found to have no significant direct effect on entrepreneurial intention in the quantitative model. Furthermore, only perceived global health crisis was found to moderate the effect of self efficacy on entrepreneurial intention, whereas no such effect was observed for self-worth. In contrast, qualitative findings reveal that subjective norms play a vital role in the Thai entrepreneurial experience, but in a form that extends beyond traditional Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs. The interview findings revealed that subjective norms are embedded in community-based support systems, emotional trust, and collective resilience, components of what this study conceptualizes as collective self-efficacy. Older entrepreneurs are often motivated by a sense of responsibility toward their community, leveraging social networks and local knowledge to reduce perceived risk. This study contributes to theory by proposing an expanded TPB framework incorporating collective self-efficacy for collectivist societies. It also offers practical implications for designing culturally sensitive entrepreneurial training, policy interventions, and support systems tailored to aging populations. Methodologically, the mixed-methods approach uncovered nuanced cultural insights often missed in quantitative-only designs. While limited by contextual and sample specificity, this study offers a culturally attuned understanding of entrepreneurial intention in Thailand. It provides valuable recommendations for fostering community-driven entrepreneurship that supports both economic participation and personal fulfillment among older adults. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Publication code = DBA-SM, SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vimolwan Yukongdi; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Winai Wongsurawat;Pisut Koomsap; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Join and Coin Corporation Co., Ltd., Thailand |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026 |
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