This study delves into the intricate dynamics of digital entrepreneurship among working adults in Malaysia, focusing on unraveling the interplay between digital entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, social media usage, intention, and the pivotal role of attitude as a mediator. Rooted in the Theory of Planned Behavior, this research extends its scope by introducing attitude as a mediator, employing a comprehensive framework to evaluate the influence of these factors on digital entrepreneurial intentions. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study harnesses primary data for analysis, with a robust dataset of 345 clean entries subjected to Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques. Employing Smartpls4 software, the research meticulously examines multivariate data and tests proposed hypotheses. Model measurement and structural model assessment procedures are executed using Smartpls4, with construct reliability and validity assessments confirming convergent validity and reliability. Discriminant validity is then verified through cross-loadings and Hetrotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratios. The inner model undergoes scrutiny, revealing that digital entrepreneurship education plays a pivotal role in shaping positive attitudes, nurturing self-efficacy, and leveraging social media for entrepreneurial aspirations. The study underscores the importance of tailored educational programs, targeted skill development initiatives, and the creation of supportive ecosystems to bolster digital entrepreneurial intentions. Theoretical implications contribute to the literature by extending existing frameworks, while contextual implications offer practical guidance for stakeholders navigating Malaysia's evolving digital landscape. Practical implications outline actionable steps for educators, policymakers, and practitioners to cultivate an environment conducive to digital entrepreneurship. Suggestions for future research advocate for longitudinal studies, exploration of cultural variations, and investigations into the impact of emerging technologies. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the multifaceted nature of digital entrepreneurship dynamics, providing invaluable insights for fostering a resilient and inclusive digital entrepreneurial ecosystem among working adults in Malaysia. These insights are deemed essential for the nation's aspirations in the digital era.
Abd Rahim, L. N., Ramlee, N. A. Z., Surin, E. F. M., & Rahim, H. L. (2023). Technology Entrepreneurship Intention among Higher Education Institutions Students: A Literature Review. Information Management and Business Review, 15(3 (SI)), 85-94.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Akbari, M., Irani, H. R., Zamani, Z., Valizadeh, N., & Arab, S. (2024). Self-esteem, entrepreneurial mindset, and entrepreneurial intention: A moderated mediation model. The International Journal of Management Education, 22(1), 100934.
Al-Qadasi, N., Zhang, G., Al-Awlaqi, M. A., Alshebami, A. S., & Aamer, A. (2023). Factors influencing entrepreneurial intention of university students in Yemen: The mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1111934.
Bachmann, N., Rose, R., Maul, V., & Hölzle, K. (2024). What makes for future entrepreneurs? The role of digital competencies for entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Business Research, 174, 114481.
Barrera-Verdugo, G., & Villarroel-Villarroel, A. (2022). Evaluating the relationship between social media use frequency and entrepreneurial perceptions and attitudes among students. Heliyon, 8(4).
Chen, Gilad & Gully, Stan & Eden, Dov. (2001). Validation of a New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Organizational Research Methods - ORGAN RES METHODS. 4. 10.1177/109442810141004.
Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159. doi:10.1037/0033-
2909.112.1.155
Dabbous, A., & Boustani, N. M. (2023). Digital explosion and entrepreneurship education: Impact on promoting entrepreneurial intention for business students. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 16(1), 27.
Darmanto, S., Ekopriyono, A., Hikmah, & Tri Ratnawati, A. (2023). Investigating the development of entrepreneurial behavior among nascent digital entrepreneurs. Cogent Business & Management, 10(2), 2247875.
Denanyoh, R., Adjei, K., & Nyemekye, G. E. (2015). Factors that impact on entrepreneurial intention of tertiary students in Ghana. International journal of business and social research, 5(3), 19-29.
Duong, C. (2023). A moderated mediation model of perceived barriers, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, intentions, and behaviors: A social cognitive career theory perspective. Oeconomia Copernicana, 14(1), 355-388.
Fazil, N. F. M., Ahmad, N. L., & Yusof, R. (2022). Digital Skills in Igniting Accounting Undergraduates’ Entrepreneurship Intention. International Business Education Journal, 15(2), 1-13.
Feranita, F., Mouawad, R., Amin, M., Leong, L. W., & Radhakrishnan, T. (2022). Unveiling the role of entrepreneurial education in preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs in Malaysia. In Strategic entrepreneurial ecosystems and business model innovation (pp. 17-30). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3 ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hassan, H., Sade, A. B., Rahman, M. S.(2020). Shaping entrepreneurial intention among youngsters in Malaysia, Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, 2 (3). 235-251
Hassan, H. M., Igel, B., & Shamsuddoha, M. (2022). Entrepreneurship Education and Social Entrepreneurial Intentions: The Mediating Effects of Entrepreneurial Social Network. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 860273.
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., and Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1): 115-135.
Huang, T. C., Wang, Y. J., & Lai, H. M. (2022). What drives internet entrepreneurial intentionto use technology products? An investigation of technology product imagination disposition, social support, and motivation. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 829256.
Hussein, R. S., Mohamed, H., & Kais, A. (2022). Antecedents of level of social media use: exploring the mediating effect of usefulness, attitude and satisfaction. Journal of Marketing Communications, 28(7), 703-724.
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.
Kock, N. (2015). Common method bias in PLS-SEM: A full collinearity assessment approach. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 11(4), 1-10.
Le, T. M. H., & Ngoc, B. M. (2024). Consumption-related social media peer communication and online shopping intention among Gen Z consumers: A moderated-serial mediation model. Computers in Human Behavior, 153, 108100.
Lesinskis, K., Mavlutova, I., Spilbergs, A., & Hermanis, J. (2023). Digital Transformation in Entrepreneurship Education: The Use of a Digital Tool KABADA and Entrepreneurial Intention of Generation Z. Sustainability, 15(13), 10135.
Liengaard, B. D., Sharma, P. N., Hult, G. T. M., Jensen, M. B., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., &
Ringle, C. M. (2021). Prediction: Coveted, Yet Forsaken? Introducing a Cross-
validated Predictive Ability Test in Partial Least Squares Path Modeling. Decision Sciences, 52(2), 362-392.
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.
Maheshwari, G., Kha, K. L., & Arokiasamy, A. R. A. (2023). Factors affecting students’
entrepreneurial intentions: a systematic review (2005–2022) for future directions in theory and practice. Management Review Quarterly, 73(4), 1903-1970.
Ngoo, Y. T., Cheah, L. F., & Tiong, K. M. (2023). Unveiling the Mindset of Future Digital
Entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Research in Business and Management, 5(1), 295-307.
Ringle, C. M., and Sarstedt, M. (2016). Gain more insight from your PLS-SEM results: The
importance-performance map analysis. Industrial Management & Data Systems. 116: 1865–1886.
Santhanamery, T., Shafie, D. I., Saw-Imm, S., & Khalid, N. A. (2023). Role of Entrepreneurial
Education, Family Background, Attitude and Self Efficacy in Determining Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention: The Moderation and Mediation Approach. Asian Journal of University Education, 19(4), 690-705.
Sarwar, B., Zulfiqar, S., Aziz, S., & Chandia, E. K. (2019). Usage of social media tools for
collaborative learning: The effect on learning success with the moderating role of cyberbullying. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 57(1), 246–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633117748415
Shmueli, G., M. Sarstedt, J.F. Hair, J.-H. Cheah, H. Ting, S. Vaithilingam, and C.M. Ringle. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using PLSpredict. European Journal of Marketing. 53: 2322–2347.
Sobaih, A. E. E., & Elshaer, I. A. (2022). Personal Traits and Digital Entrepreneurship: A Mediation Model Using SmartPLS Data Analysis. Mathematics, 10(21), 3926.
Sreejith, P. M., & Sreejith, S. (2023). Exploring the role of cultural capital, ICT skills, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy in shaping entrepreneurial intention among women. Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 11(2), 151-179.
Tajpour, M., & Hosseini, E. (2021). Entrepreneurial intention and the performance of digital startups: The mediating role of social media. Journal of Content, Community & Communication, 13(1), 2-15.
Taneja, M., Kiran, R., & Bose, S. C. (2024). Assessing entrepreneurial intentions through experiential learning, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial attitude. Studies in Higher Education, 49(1), 98-118.
Tran, V. H., Vu, T. N., Pham, H. T., Nguyen, T. P. T., & Duong, C. D. (2024). Closing the entrepreneurial attitude-intention-behavior gap: the direct and moderating role of entrepreneurship education. Journal of International Education in Business, 17(1), 107-132.
Triyono, M. B., Mutohhar, F., Kholifah, N., Nurtanto, M., Subakti, H., & Prasetya, K. H. (2023). Examining the Mediating-Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Digital Competence on Entrepreneurial Intention in Vocational Education. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 15(1), 116-127.
Upadhyay, N., Upadhyay, S., Al-Debei, M. M., Baabdullah, A. M., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2023). The influence of digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial orientation on intention of family businesses to adopt artificial intelligence: examining the mediating role of business innovativeness. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 29(1), 80-115.
Vafaei-Zadeh, A., Ganesan, V., Hanifah, H., Teoh, A. P., & Ramayah, T. (2023). Cyber-entrepreneurial intention among students in Public Universities: evidence from an Emerging Country. Education and Information Technologies, 28(5), 5385-5419.
Vejayaratnam, N., Paramasivam, T., & Mustakim, S. S. (2019). Digital Entrepreneurial Intention among Private Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(12), 110-120.
Voon, J. P., Ngui, K. S., & Agrawal, A. (2011). Determinants of willingness to purchase organic food: An exploratory study using structural equation modeling. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 14, 103–120.
Wang, X. H., You, X., Wang, H. P., Wang, B., Lai, W. Y., & Su, N. (2023). The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention: Mediation of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Moderating Model of Psychological Capital. Sustainability, 15(3), 2562.
Yousaf, H. Q., Munawar, S., Ahmed, M., & Rehman, S. (2022). The effect of entrepreneurial education on entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of culture. The International Journal of Management Education, 20(3), 100712.
Yu, T. K., Chao, C. M., & Wang, Y. (2022). Factors influencing the teaching intention of business college teachers to fulfill digital entrepreneurship courses. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 860808.
Zulfiqar, M., Ansar, S., Ali, M., Hassan, K. H. U., Bilal, M., & Rahman, S. U. (2022). The Role of Social Economic Resources Towards Entrepreneurial Intentions. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 19(1), 2219-2253.
