Human flourishing: an enabler of entrepreneurial intention in Latin American students

Purpose This study aims to propose a causal relationship between the level of students' human flourishing (HF) and their entrepreneurial intention (EI) and the mediation role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE). Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample of 5,035 first-year university students who graduated from 950 different upper secondary schools in Mexico and abroad. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings The results reveal that HF increases EI and ESE; ESE positively impacts EI; and the student's ESE partially mediates the HF-EI relationship. Practical implications These findings may improve educational strategies in upper secondary schools and higher education institutions' management programmes to impact graduates' HF and EI. To the knowledge, the authors are the first to measure how HF in upper secondary school graduates contributes to increasing their EI. Social implications Recommendations are made to increase Latin American students' HF and EI. Originality/value The authors propose an inverse relationship between HF and EI, as HF can be enhanced in upper secondary education to boost EI later in students' lives.