Investigating the emotional impact of entrepreneurship programs

• We examine effects of an entrepreneurship course on emotional related variables.
• We use a strong pretest-posttest control group design.
• Anticipated negative affect ( NA) from new business creation increased.
• NA related negatively to intention at end of the program.
• Students' entrepreneurial intentions and PBC increased.

This study used a pretest–posttest control group design to study the impact of an elective entrepreneurship training program on emotional related variables. Data were collected from 60 engineering students attending the program and from 51 control group participants. Results demonstrated an increase on students' entrepreneurial intentions and perceived behavioral control and an increase on students' negative anticipated affect (NA) from new business creation. Anticipated NA related negatively to intention at the end of the program. Results suggest that anticipated affect may be an important target variable for entrepreneurship education courses.