Exploring Female Social Entrepreneurship Intentions Through Institutional and Value-Belief-Norm Frameworks: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

This study aims to contribute to the literature on social entrepreneurship by examining the factors influencing female students’ intentions to engage in social entrepreneurship in Oman, an emerging economy. Drawing on Institutional Theory and the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory, the research investigates how individuals’ general knowledge about social issues and their values shape their motivation to engage in social entrepreneurship. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 320 female students across public and private universities in Oman. The proposed conceptual model was examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that general knowledge of social issues and values has a direct impact on the intention to engage in social entrepreneurship. Serial mediation analysis confirms that these effects are transmitted indirectly through a sequential path involving problem awareness, outcome efficacy, and personal norms. The results suggest that knowledge about societal issues is more effective than personal values in promoting social entrepreneurship among Omani female students. This insight provides strategic direction to educational programs, international collaborations, and policies to foster social entrepreneurship in Oman. And offer valuable insights into designing more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems, as well as effective CSR activities. This study breaks new ground by applying the institutional theory and VBN framework perspective from a Muslim-majority emerging economy to make entrepreneurship research more inclusive and culturally relevant.