Investigating the Impact of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurial Performance Considering the Mediating Role of Multiple Intelligences in the Tourism Industry of Mazandaran Province

The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on entrepreneurial performance, considering the mediating role of multiple intelligences among practitioners in the tourism industry of Mazandaran Province. In terms of its objective, this research is applied, and methodologically, it is a descriptive-survey study employing a quantitative approach. The statistical population comprises all entrepreneurs and managers of active tourism enterprises in Mazandaran Province in the year 2023. Using Cochran's formula and stratified random sampling, 312 individuals were selected as the final sample. Data were collected using standard questionnaires, including the Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy scale by Deeks et al., the Multiple Intelligences scale by Gardner, and the Entrepreneurial Performance scale by Dess and Montgomery. Data analysis was performed using SmartPLS 4 software and the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings indicated that entrepreneurial self-efficacy has a positive and significant impact on both entrepreneurial performance and multiple intelligences. Furthermore, multiple intelligences exert a significant effect on entrepreneurial performance and play a partial mediating role in the relationship between self-efficacy and performance. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the dependent variable was 0.41, and the Q² index was 0.36, indicating the model's adequate explanatory and predictive power. It is concluded that strengthening self-efficacy beliefs and nurturing various dimensions of intelligence among tourism entrepreneurs in Mazandaran can directly and indirectly lead to the enhancement of sustainable business performance. By integrating Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, this research provides a novel framework for explaining entrepreneurial behavior in the tourism industry. It recommends that policymakers and tourism development organizations in the province design training and empowerment programs based on intelligence profiles and the enhancement of entrepreneurs' self-efficacy.