Feel When to Make an Effort: Internalization of Emotional Support into Entrepreneurial Commitment

Entrepreneurial commitment can be regarded as the central antecedent to entrepreneurial action. However, we know little about how situational factors influence entrepreneurial commitment. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the impact of emotional support on entrepreneurial commitment. In addition, we seek to identify the cognitive-emotive mechanisms in the internalization process of emotional support into entrepreneurial commitment. In Study 1 (N = 400), we relate positive-encouraging, negative-discouraging, and mixed emotional support to entrepreneurial commitment and test the mediating role of opportunity evaluation in these relationships. In Study 2 (N = 450), we test the moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the mediated relationship among positive-encouraging, negative- discouraging, and mixed emotional support on entrepreneurial commitment via opportunity evaluation. Findings from both studies are generally consistent with our hypotheses. We discuss the theoretical and practical...