Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intentions: an exploratory meta-analysis
Career Development International
ISSN: 1362-0436
Article publication date: 17 October 2018
Issue publication date: 25 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The topic of entrepreneurial intention, which refers to a person’s degree of interest in creating a new business venture, has received close scrutiny in the entrepreneurship literature. The empirical results regarding the relation between emotional intelligence (EI) and entrepreneurial intention were nevertheless mixed across studies. Based on fit theory and trait activation theory, the purpose of this paper is to explain the fundamental reason for the mixed findings in the extant literature thus far.
Design/methodology/approach
Random-effects meta-analyses, based on 12 studies (along with 12 effect sizes), were performed to not only investigate the overall relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention but also to examine the moderators (i.e. individualism (vs collectivism), masculinity (vs femininity), power distance, long-term orientation (vs short-term orientation), uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence (vs restraint)) that influence this relation.
Findings
The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that EI is positively related to entrepreneurial intention; the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention is stronger in long-term-oriented cultures; and the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention does not significantly differ based on a culture’s level of collectivism, masculinity, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence.
Originality/value
This meta-analysis advances the current understanding of the relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention from cross-cultural perspectives.
Keywords
Citation
Miao, C., Humphrey, R.H., Qian, S. and Pollack, J.M. (2018), "Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intentions: an exploratory meta-analysis", Career Development International, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 497-512. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-01-2018-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited