Resilience or social support? Identifying drivers of entrepreneurial intentions among former female inmates in post-release entrepreneurship programs

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractEntrepreneurship is a strategic rehabilitative approach within correctional institutions, offering incarcerated individuals viable opportunities for economic independence and social reintegration. The high recidivism rates and severe social stigma faced by women upon release underscore the relevance of identifying effective psychological and social drivers to maximize the success of these initiatives. The study aims to examine the impact of prison entrepreneurship programs (PEP) on the entrepreneurial intentions of female inmates following their release, specifically exploring whether the moderating influences of personal resilience or external social support are the predictors in this process. A quantitative research design was adopted, utilizing primary data collected through a structured survey. The population comprises 225 female inmates who are currently incarcerated but have actively participated in vocational and entrepreneurship-oriented training for a minimum of three months in four selected correctional facilities. Data processing and model estimation were performed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings demonstrate that participation in the PEP has a substantial and positive effect on entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.345, p < 0.001), with the overall model explaining 62.2% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention (R² = 0.622). The moderating analysis reveals that resilience does not have a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between PEP participation and entrepreneurial intention (p > 0.05). In contrast, social support emerges as a significant positive moderator, strengthening the effect of PEP participation on entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.265, p < 0.001). The study concludes that PEPs are highly effective, but their success hinges more on the assurance of post-release social support networks than on the inmates’ individual psychological resilience.