“Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs

This study explores how religious beliefs shape sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions through sustainability-oriented mindfulness and personal norms within the framework of the Norm Activation Model. Focusing on three specific religious beliefs—afterlife beliefs, karmic beliefs, and bel...

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Main Authors: Cong Doanh Duong, Thi Thanh Hoa Phan, Thu Van Bui, Tuan Vu Chu, Lam Hanh Trang Pham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001911
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author Cong Doanh Duong
Thi Thanh Hoa Phan
Thu Van Bui
Tuan Vu Chu
Lam Hanh Trang Pham
author_facet Cong Doanh Duong
Thi Thanh Hoa Phan
Thu Van Bui
Tuan Vu Chu
Lam Hanh Trang Pham
author_sort Cong Doanh Duong
collection DOAJ
description This study explores how religious beliefs shape sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions through sustainability-oriented mindfulness and personal norms within the framework of the Norm Activation Model. Focusing on three specific religious beliefs—afterlife beliefs, karmic beliefs, and beliefs in a just world—the research investigates both the direct and indirect effects of these beliefs on sustainability-oriented intentions. Data were collected from 385 university students using a structured survey, and the proposed relationships were analyzed through regression analysis and response surface methodology. The findings indicate that afterlife beliefs, karmic beliefs, and beliefs in a just world positively influence sustainability-oriented mindfulness, which subsequently strengthens personal norms. Additionally, sustainability-oriented mindfulness mediates the relationship between religious beliefs and personal norms, while only afterlife beliefs exhibit a serial indirect effect on entrepreneurial intentions through the mindfulness and personal norms pathway. The study further reveals that alignment between pairs of religious beliefs (afterlife beliefs and karmic beliefs, karmic beliefs and beliefs in a just world, afterlife beliefs and beliefs in a just world) enhances sustainability-oriented mindfulness, whereas significant discrepancies between certain beliefs can weaken it. This research contributes to the literature by incorporating religious beliefs into the Norm Activation Model and emphasizing the role of balanced belief systems in fostering sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship. Practical implications suggest that promoting mindfulness and cohesive ethical frameworks may enhance sustainable entrepreneurship, particularly in religious or culturally influenced settings.
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spelling doaj-art-9fe62b02a6ad43acb099d6bb77a75cca2025-08-20T02:40:18ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-06-01910062210.1016/j.sftr.2025.100622“Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefsCong Doanh Duong0Thi Thanh Hoa Phan1Thu Van Bui2Tuan Vu Chu3Lam Hanh Trang Pham4Room 1008, 10th floor, A1 building, Facuty of Business Management, School of Business, National Economics University, Hanoi ,100000, VietnamCorresponding author.; Room 1008, 10th floor, A1 building, Facuty of Business Management, School of Business, National Economics University, Hanoi ,100000, VietnamRoom 1008, 10th floor, A1 building, Facuty of Business Management, School of Business, National Economics University, Hanoi ,100000, VietnamRoom 1008, 10th floor, A1 building, Facuty of Business Management, School of Business, National Economics University, Hanoi ,100000, VietnamRoom 1008, 10th floor, A1 building, Facuty of Business Management, School of Business, National Economics University, Hanoi ,100000, VietnamThis study explores how religious beliefs shape sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions through sustainability-oriented mindfulness and personal norms within the framework of the Norm Activation Model. Focusing on three specific religious beliefs—afterlife beliefs, karmic beliefs, and beliefs in a just world—the research investigates both the direct and indirect effects of these beliefs on sustainability-oriented intentions. Data were collected from 385 university students using a structured survey, and the proposed relationships were analyzed through regression analysis and response surface methodology. The findings indicate that afterlife beliefs, karmic beliefs, and beliefs in a just world positively influence sustainability-oriented mindfulness, which subsequently strengthens personal norms. Additionally, sustainability-oriented mindfulness mediates the relationship between religious beliefs and personal norms, while only afterlife beliefs exhibit a serial indirect effect on entrepreneurial intentions through the mindfulness and personal norms pathway. The study further reveals that alignment between pairs of religious beliefs (afterlife beliefs and karmic beliefs, karmic beliefs and beliefs in a just world, afterlife beliefs and beliefs in a just world) enhances sustainability-oriented mindfulness, whereas significant discrepancies between certain beliefs can weaken it. This research contributes to the literature by incorporating religious beliefs into the Norm Activation Model and emphasizing the role of balanced belief systems in fostering sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship. Practical implications suggest that promoting mindfulness and cohesive ethical frameworks may enhance sustainable entrepreneurship, particularly in religious or culturally influenced settings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001911Religious beliefsSustainability-oriented mindfulnessNorm activation modelSustainability-oriented entrepreneurship
spellingShingle Cong Doanh Duong
Thi Thanh Hoa Phan
Thu Van Bui
Tuan Vu Chu
Lam Hanh Trang Pham
“Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
Sustainable Futures
Religious beliefs
Sustainability-oriented mindfulness
Norm activation model
Sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship
title “Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
title_full “Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
title_fullStr “Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
title_full_unstemmed “Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
title_short “Do you believe in an afterlife?”: Fabricating sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
title_sort do you believe in an afterlife fabricating sustainability oriented entrepreneurs with curvilinear effects of religious beliefs
topic Religious beliefs
Sustainability-oriented mindfulness
Norm activation model
Sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001911
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