Gender Differences in Green Entrepreneurial Intention in Malaysia: The Mediating Roles of Attitude and Perceived Behavioural Control

Abstract

Green entrepreneurship plays an increasingly important role in advancing sustainable development; however, empirical evidence on gender differences in green entrepreneurial intention remains limited. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study investigates how gender influences green entrepreneurial intention through the mediating effects of attitude toward green entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control. By addressing this gap, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of gendered decision-making processes in sustainable entrepreneurship. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, survey data were collected from 317 undergraduate students and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS- SEM), incorporating mediation and multi-group analyses. The findings reveal that gender does not exert a direct effect on green entrepreneurial intention but operates indirectly through psychological antecedents. Both attitude toward green entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control significantly and positively influence intention. Notably, the attitudinal pathway is stronger among female students, indicating that value-driven and pro- environmental considerations play a more salient role in shaping their entrepreneurial intentions, whereas perceived behavioral control demonstrates a comparable influence across genders. The study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior by empirically demonstrating gender-specific mediation mechanisms in the formation of green entrepreneurial intention. From a practical perspective, the results underscore the importance of gender- sensitive educational and policy interventions that strengthen positive attitudes toward green entrepreneurship while enhancing perceived behavioral control to support broader participation in sustainable entrepreneurial activities.