Stress to success: sharpening intentions via higher alertness and lower fear of failure among female entrepreneurs in low-income economies

Purpose This study examines the influence of Entrepreneurial Knowledge (EK) on Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) among female university students in a lower-income economy, with particular attention to the mediating roles of Entrepreneurial Alertness (EA) and Entrepreneurial Fear of Failure (EFoF). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, using primary data collected from 360 final-semester female students (N = 360) across four universities in Yemen. Structural Equation Modelling was used for data analysis. Findings The results show that EK significantly and positively influences both EI and EA, while exhibiting a significant negative effect on EFoF. EA positively affects EI but does not significantly reduce EFoF. EFoF, conversely, significantly and negatively affects EI. Importantly, EFoF significantly mediates the relationship between EK and EI, whereas EA does not exhibit a mediating effect. Practical implications The findings suggest that targeted entrepreneurship education interventions that directly reduce EFoF, such as confidence-building, failure-normalisation practices and structured mentoring, may have greater impact on strengthening EI than alertness-focused training alone in fragile contexts. Originality/value This study contributes novel insights into how cognitive factors operate within unstable and resource-constrained environments, specifically among women in lower-income economies. It adds a boundary to the Social Cognitive Career Theory by highlighting the absence of the EA effect in reducing EFoF in unstable contexts. It also advances the literature by demonstrating the differentiated roles of alertness and fear of failure in shaping EI.