NAVIGATING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT IN ENHANCING WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37335/ijek.v13i1.316

Keywords:

social support theory, entrepreneurial resilience theory, family support, friends support, lecturer support, entrepreneurial well-being

Abstract

This study examines the influence of support from family, friends, and lecturers on the entrepreneurial well-being and performance of university students, with a focus on the moderating role of entrepreneurial resilience. A nomothetic quantitative methodology was employed, using a survey to collect responses from 261 university students in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Structural equation modeling validated the findings and assessed the relationships between social support, entrepreneurial well-being, resilience, and performance. The study confirms that family, friends, and lecturers have a significant impact on entrepreneurial well-being. It was also found that entrepreneurial well-being, in turn, has a significant impact on entrepreneurial performance. Additionally, entrepreneurial resilience moderates this relationship, strengthening the link between entrepreneurial well-being and performance. This study highlights the crucial role of social support in enhancing entrepreneurial well-being and performance among university students. Through highlighting the contributions of family, friends, and lecturers, these findings underscore the importance of cultivating strong support systems within the academic environment. The implications point to the need for universities to strengthen student support networks and promote resilience-building initiatives that maximise entrepreneurial outcomes. It is therefore recommended that higher education institutions integrate mentorship, peer collaboration, and psychological resilience training into their entrepreneurship. This study adds value by extending social support and entrepreneurial resilience theories into a student entrepreneurship context within a developing country, contributing novel insights to the literature on youth entrepreneurship.

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Author Biographies

Eugine Tafadzwa Maziriri, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa

Email: eemaziriri@uwc.ac.za

Prof Eugine Tafadzwa Maziriri is an Associate Professor at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. His research focuses on business management, digital entrepreneurship, and consumer behaviour.

Miston Mapuranga, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa

Email: mmapuranga@wsu.ac.za

Dr Winston Mapuranga, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in the Department of Business Management & Economics at the Walter Sisulu University in South Africa. His research focuses on innovation management, technology management, and entrepreneurship.

Tinashe Chuchu, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: tinashe.chuchu@wits.ac.za

Prof Tinashe Chuchu is an Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. His research focuses on consumer behaviour.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Maziriri, E. T., Mapuranga, M., & Chuchu, T. (2025). NAVIGATING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT IN ENHANCING WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge, 13(1), 142–164. https://doi.org/10.37335/ijek.v13i1.316