Parental Support and Family Firm Succession Intention: The Mediation Effect of Next-Generation Members’ Commitment to the Family Firm

Based on data from the Global University Entrepreneurial Students’ Spirit Survey (GUESS) 2018 project, this study examined the relationship between parental support factors and next-generation members’ succession intention and investigated the mediating effect of next-generation members’ commitment to the family firm. The results of the structural equation modeling analysis showed a mediating effect of next-generation members’ commitment to the family firm on the relationship between parental support and next-generation members’ succession intention. Specifically, normative commitment negatively mediated the relationship of succession intentions with parental career-related modeling and verbal encouragement. We employed social exchange theory to examine why these relationships occur. The findings of this study extend our knowledge of the parental support factors that potentially increase next-generation members’ commitment and succession intention.