Although the influence of entrepreneurial engagement on venture success is well proven, the precise mechanism connecting scenario-based and industry-specific participation to entrepreneurial quality in the green sector is inadequately conceptualized. This study examines how entrepreneurial involvement shapes entrepreneurial quality (EQ) among youth by addressing a key theoretical gap in how experiential engagement translates into sustainable entrepreneurial outcomes. Specifically, it investigates the effects of entrepreneurial scenario involvement (ESI) and entrepreneurial industry involvement on EQ, while considering the mediating roles of sustainable entrepreneurial behavior (SEB), green entrepreneurial intention (GEI), and green entrepreneurial support (GES) and the moderating role of entrepreneurial ecosystem support.
Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 380 self-employed Chinese college student entrepreneurs and recent graduates, including participants from business incubators in Jiangsu Province. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SPSS and SmartPLS to test the hypothesized relationships.
Results reveal that both ESI and entrepreneurial industry involvement significantly influence GEI, green entrepreneurial support, and SEB, which in turn positively mediate their effects on entrepreneurial quality. The model indicates strong explanatory power for EQ (R2 = 0.561) and sustainable entrepreneurial behavior (R2 = 0.513), while green entrepreneurial intention and GES exhibit modest explanatory levels (R2 = 0.231), suggesting their roles as partial mediators. Similarly, model fit indices further confirm robustness (SRMR = 0.061; NFI = 0.967). In addition, entrepreneurial ecosystem support significantly strengthens the relationship between entrepreneurial involvement and EQ, underscoring the importance of contextual support mechanisms.
The findings offer strategic guidance for policymakers, educators and entrepreneurial ecosystem developers to design targeted interventions that strengthen green entrepreneurial capabilities and promote sustainable behaviors among youth. They underscore the importance of integrating scenario-based learning, industry engagement, and sustainability-focused training into entrepreneurship education. In addition, the results highlight the need for complementary institutional and ecosystem-level support to reinforce these efforts and ensure their long-term effectiveness.
By promoting sustainable entrepreneurship, the study contributes to the advancement of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), supporting inclusive and sustainable economic development.
This study contributes to the literature by integrating RBV and TPB to explain how experiential (involvement-based), behavioral, and institutional mechanisms jointly shape entrepreneurial quality in a sustainability context. Unlike prior studies that examine isolated relationships, this research identifies a multi-path process linking involvement to EQ through sustainability behavior, intention, and support structures, thereby refining the understanding of entrepreneurial capability development in emerging economies.
