Entrepreneurship education is gaining traction among Chinese college students as it promises to cultivate self-efficacy, creativity, and innovation. A recent study reveals significant insights about how this educational framework enhances students' entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) through harmonious passion, yet faces challenges posed by parental psychological control (PPC).
Given the Chinese State Council's guidelines issued in 2022 advocating for the empowerment of college student entrepreneurs, higher education institutions have intensively ramped up their entrepreneurship training programs. These initiatives aim to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in their entrepreneurial ventures, especially during economic uncertainties.
The quantitative study, conducted with 1,411 college students, seeks to illuminate the mechanisms underlying entrepreneurship education's effectiveness. Research findings indicate entrepreneurship education significantly boosts students’ ESE, with harmonious passion playing a mediatory role—positive emotions derived from entrepreneurship education help students cultivate stronger beliefs about their entrepreneurial capabilities.
Nonetheless, the study highlights the often-overlooked influence of parental attitudes, particularly the negative effect of PPC. This psychological control, characterized by parents intruding on their children's thoughts and feelings around entrepreneurship, can weaken the motivational boost provided by entrepreneurship education.
Research has shown PPC to be common among Chinese parents who traditionally lean toward conservatism, often discouraging entrepreneurial ambitions due to concerns over stability and risk. Findings suggest this familial pressure creates psychological barriers for students, thereby suppressing their confidence and motivation to engage with entrepreneurship.
The study offers practical solutions, urging educators to refine entrepreneurship curricula to support the nurturing of harmonious passion, counter parental control, and shape favorable perceptions about entrepreneurship within the family setting.
Overall, the research not only enriches the existing literature on entrepreneurship education but provides actionable insights for educators and parents on fostering favorable environments for aspiring student entrepreneurs.