Emotion, Spirit, and Systems: Reframing Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention in Fragile Regional Contexts

ABSTRACT This study introduces and examines the interdisciplinary dimensions of ecological grief, spiritual ecology, and systems thinking in shaping sustainable entrepreneurial intention among young people in the Indian‐administered Kashmir region, an area marked by ecological fragility and political instability. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the framework integrates emotional, spiritual, and cognitive antecedents, together with the mediating role of entrepreneurial self‐identity and the moderating role of social support. A survey of 326 aspiring entrepreneurs was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM). Findings show that ecological grief and systems thinking do not directly predict entrepreneurial intention, while spiritual ecology exerts a strong positive influence and fosters systems‐oriented thinking. Entrepreneurial self‐identity did not mediate the ecological grief–intention pathway, challenging prevailing assumptions, whereas social support significantly strengthened the link between identity and intention. The study advances a context‐sensitive framework for sustainability‐oriented entrepreneurship in fragile regions, directly contributing to debates on the Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights the need to design entrepreneurship and development strategies that build emotional resilience, embed spiritual and cultural grounding, and mobilize supportive environments to foster sustainable futures in ecologically and politically vulnerable contexts.