Journals / Dicle Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 31

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF UNEMPLOYMENT ANXIETY IN THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL LITERACY ON DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTENTION

DİJİTAL OKURYAZARLIĞIN DİJİTAL GİRİŞİMCİLİK NİYETİNE ETKİSİNDE İŞSİZLİK KAYGISININ ARACI ROLÜ

Onur Oktaysoy(KAFKAS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8623-614X
Pages
30–54
Publication Date
2026-05-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings reveal that digital literacy significantly increases digital entrepreneurial intention, and unemployment anxiety plays a partial mediating role in this relationship.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the mediating role of unemployment anxiety in the effect of digital literacy on digital entrepreneurial intention, seeking to understand the relationship between young individuals’ digital competencies and their career orientations.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Conducted through a quantitative research design, the study collected data via a questionnaire from 727 students enrolled at Kafkas University.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings reveal that digital literacy significantly increases digital entrepreneurial intention, and unemployment anxiety plays a partial mediating role in this relationship.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dijital Okuryazarlık · Dijital Girişimcilik Niyeti · İşsizlik Kaygısı

Abstract

This study aims to examine the mediating role of unemployment anxiety in the effect of digital literacy on digital entrepreneurial intention, seeking to understand the relationship between young individuals’ digital competencies and their career orientations. Conducted through a quantitative research design, the study collected data via a questionnaire from 727 students enrolled at Kafkas University. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that digital literacy significantly increases digital entrepreneurial intention, and unemployment anxiety plays a partial mediating role in this relationship. Contrary to expectations, a positive relationship was identified between digital literacy and unemployment anxiety. This result suggests that increased digital awareness may elevate anxiety levels, offering a critical perspective on traditional assumptions in the literature. The study contributes to the field by providing an original discussion on the psychosocial impacts of digitalization and highlighting the complexity of digital competence in shaping entrepreneurial intentions.

Özet

Bu araştırma, dijital okuryazarlığın dijital girişimcilik niyeti üzerindeki etkisinde işsizlik kaygısının aracı rolünü inceleyerek genç bireylerin dijital yeterlilikleri ile kariyer yönelimleri arasındaki ilişkileri anlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Nicel araştırma deseniyle yürütülen çalışmada, Kafkas Üniversitesi’nde öğrenim gören 727 öğrenciden anket yoluyla veri toplanmış ve analizler yapısal eşitlik modellemesi (PLS-SEM) ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, dijital okuryazarlığın dijital girişimcilik niyetini anlamlı şekilde artırdığını, işsizlik kaygısının ise bu ilişkide kısmi aracı rol oynadığını ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca literatürdeki genel yaklaşıma paralel olarak dijital okuryazarlığın işsizlik kaygısını azaltması beklenirken, aksine pozitif yönde bir ilişki saptanmıştır. Bu durum, dijital farkındalığın kaygı düzeyini artırabileceğini göstererek literatürdeki geleneksel yaklaşımlara eleştirel bir katkı sunmakta ve dijitalleşmenin psikososyal etkilerine yönelik özgün bir tartışma zemini oluşturmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Oktaysoy, O. (2026). THE MEDIATING ROLE OF UNEMPLOYMENT ANXIETY IN THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL LITERACY ON DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTENTION. Dicle Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 31, 30–54. https://doi.org/10.53092/duiibfd.1713894

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (60)

  1. Abbasabadi, H. M., & Soleimani, M. (2021). Examining the effects of digital technology expansion on Unemployment: A cross-sectional investigation. Technology in society, 64, 101495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101495
  2. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 50(2), 179-211.
  3. Aljumili, S. T. Y. (2020). Unemployment anxiety and its relationship to future perceptions of unemployed graduate students. Journal Of Tikrit University For Humanities, 27(6).
  4. Al-Mamun, A., Olowolayemo, A., Wani, S., & Sofiadin, A. (2022). Exploring the impact of digital entrepreneurship education among graduates in Bangladesh. Journal of Information Systems and Digital Technologies, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.31436/jisdt.v4i2.337
  5. Anwar, Z., Hanurawan, F., Chusniyah, T., & Setiyowati, N. (2023). Adaptation of the academic digital literacy scale for college students: A validity and reliability study. Psychological Science and Education, 28(4), 98-111. https://doi.org/10.17759/pse.2023280406
  6. Apergis, N., & Payne, J. E. (2016). An empirical note on entrepreneurship and unemployment: Further evidence from US States. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 5(1), 73-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-10-2015-0029
  7. Arena, A. F., Mobbs, S., Sanatkar, S., Williams, D., Collins, D., Harris, M.,. & Deady, M. (2023). Mental health and unemployment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to improve depression and anxiety outcomes. Journal of affective disorders, 335, 450-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.027
  8. Bejaković, P., & Mrnjavac, Ž. (2020). The importance of digital literacy on the labour market. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 42(4), 921-932. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2019-0274
  9. Civelek, M. E., & Pehlivanoğlu, Ç. (2020). Technological unemployment anxiety scale development. Eurasian Business & Economics Journal, 22, 65-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.17740/eas.econ.2020.V22-05
  10. Çağlıyan, V., & Doğanalp, B. (2020). Dijital okuryazarlık internet girişimciliği niyeti ilişkisi üzerine ampirik bir çalışma. Pamukkale Üniversitesi İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7(2), 180-199. https://doi.org/10.47097/piar.807027
  11. Davras, G. M. (2020). Research of the relationship between the unemployment anxiety and the self-esteem of potential workforce in tourism. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, 6(2), 75-84. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.694817
  12. Elshaiekh, N. E., Al-Hijji, K., Shehata, A., & Alrashdi, S. M. A. (2023). An empirical analysis of factors motivating unemployed individuals to engage in digital entrepreneurship in Oman: Focus on technological infrastructure. Sustainability, 15(17), 12953. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712953
  13. Fahmi, T. A., Tjakraatmadja, J. H., & Ginting, H. (2023). An empirical study of emerging digital culture and digital attitudes in an established company. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 16(2), 342-362. https://doi.org/10.3926/jiem.5976
  14. Feuls, M., Fieseler, C., & Suphan, A. (2014). A social net? Internet and social media use during unemployment. Work, employment and society, 28(4), 551-570. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017013519846
  15. Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of marketing research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
  16. Gilster, P. (1997). Digital literacy. Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal a service of NC State University, Raleigh, NC Volume 2, Issue 2.
  17. Görkey, S. (2022). The dynamic relationship between technological change and employment: a comparison of youth and total employment using panel VAR approach and causality analysis. Sosyoekonomi, 30(54), 11-34.
  18. Hair Jr, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107-123. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMDA.2017.087624
  19. Hamutoğlu, N. B., Canan Güngören, Ö., Kaya Uyanık, G. ve Gür Erdoğan, D. (2017). Dijital okuryazarlık ölçeği: Türkçe’ye uyarlama çalışması, Ege Eğitim Dergisi, 1(18), 408- 429.
  20. Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 43, 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
  21. Herbig, B., Dragano, N., & Angerer, P. (2013). Health in the long-term unemployed. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 110(23-24), 413. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2013.0413
  22. Huttayavilaiphan, R. (2025). Digital Competence and Anxiety in Thai University English Education: Impacts on Teachers and Students. World Journal of English Language, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v15n1p225
  23. International Labour Organization (ILO). (2023). World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023. Geneva: ILO. https://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/weso/trends2023
  24. Karatepe, S. G., Kavak, O., & Topçuoğlu, E. (2023). Sosyal politikalar bağlamında girişimciliğin uluslararası alanyazındaki yeri üzerine bibliyometrik analiz. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(1), 79-97. https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1217898
  25. KAÜ (2024). Kurumsal tanıtım ve tarihçe bilgilendirme metni. (Erişim Tarihi: 11.08.2024). https://kafkas.edu.tr/kau/TR/sayfa255
  26. Kim, Y. (2022). A study on the effects of digital literacy and entrepreneurship efficacy on entrepreneurship intention: focusing on the mediating effect of experiential entrepreneurship education. The Korean Career, Entrepreneurship & Business Association. https://doi.org/10.48206/kceba.2022.6.4.103.
  27. Kömürcü, İ. (2025). The examination of the relationship between the entrepreneurship levels and unemployment anxiety of conservatory students in terms of some socio-demographic variables. Online Journal of Music Sciences, 10(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.31811/ojomus.1615784
  28. Kraus, S., Palmer, C., Kailer, N., Kallinger, F. L., & Spitzer, J. (2019). Digital entrepreneurship: A research agenda on new business models for the twenty-first century. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 25(2), 353-375. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2018-0425
  29. Krueger Jr, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of business venturing, 15(5-6), 411-432.
  30. Lim, W. M., Bansal, S., Kumar, S., Singh, S., & Nangia, P. (2024). Necessity entrepreneurship: a journey from unemployment to self‐employment. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 43(6), 41-58. https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.22256
  31. Linan, F., & Chen, Y. W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 33(3), 593-617.
  32. Linan, F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions: citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda. International entrepreneurship and management journal, 11(4), 907-933.
  33. Maudina, A., Saptono, A., & Pratama, A. (2021). The effect of digital literacy and entrepreneurs learning on students’ entrepreneurial intention. Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi, Perkantoran Dan Akuntansi. https://doi.org/10.21009/jpepa.0301.10
  34. Meena, G., & Santhanalakshmi, K. (2025). Deconstructing digital transformation: A multidimensional analysis of digital literacy’s role in shaping human capital and driving organizational success. Economics-Innovative and Economics Research Journal, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.2478/eoik-2025-0018
  35. Murniarti, E., & Sihotang, H. (2024). Analysis of Teacher Professional Commitment with Self-Efficacy and Digital Literacy Perfective. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.116.16993.
  36. Nambisan, S. (2017). Digital entrepreneurship: Toward a digital technology perspective of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 41(6), 1029-1055.
  37. Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy?. Computers & education, 59(3), 1065-1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016
  38. Nguyen, T. T., Dao, T. T., Tran, T. B., Nguyen, H. T. T., Le, L. T. N., & Pham, N. T. T. (2024). Fintech literacy and digital entrepreneurial intention: Mediator and Moderator Effect. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 4(1), 100222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjimei.2024.100222
  39. Oktaysoy, O., Topcuoglu, E., & Kaygin, E. (2023). A study on digital leadership scale adaptation. International Journal of Organizational Leadership. https://doi.org/10.33844/ijol.2022.60342
  40. Osika, G. (2024). The scopes of dıgıtal competences. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management/Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie, (210). https://doi.org/10.29119/1641-3466.2024.210.30
  41. Paul, J., Alhassan, I., Binsaif, N., & Singh, P. (2023). Digital entrepreneurship research: A systematic review. Journal of Business Research, 156, 113507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113507
  42. Rotter, M. (2014). Perpetual digital literacy. Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.22554/ijtel.v1i1.10
  43. Sari, V. N., Hady, H., & Elfiswandi, E. (2023). Employee commitment model: Analysis of the work environment and digital literacy on organizational performance to introduce the potential of west Sumatera Tourism objects (case study on west Sumatera Tourism employees). International Journal of Professional Business Review: Int. J. Prof. Bus. Rev., 8(7), 22. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i7.1676
  44. Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Pick, M., Liengaard, B. D., Radomir, L., & Ringle, C. M. (2022). Progress in partial least squares structural equation modeling use in marketing research in the last decade. Psychology & Marketing, 39(5), 1035-1064. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21640
  45. Satalkina, L., & Steiner, G. (2020). Digital entrepreneurship and its role in innovation systems: A systematic literature review as a basis for future research avenues for sustainable transitions. Sustainability, 12(7), 2764. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072764
  46. Schlaegel, C., & Koenig, M. (2014). Determinants of entrepreneurial intent: A meta–analytic test and integration of competing models. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 38(2), 291-332.
  47. Seçer, B. (2012). İş sağlığı ve güvenliğinde psikolojik bir yaklaşım: Atıf kuramı. ISGUC The Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 14(4), 29-46. https://doi.org/10.4026/1303-2860.2012.0209.x
  48. Setiawati, R., Adriani, Z., & Wediawati, B. (2022). Entrepreneurial interest in startup business based on entrepreneurial literacy and digital literacy. Jurnal Perspektif Pembiayaan Dan Pembangunan Daerah, 10(4), 235-250. https://doi.org/10.22437/ppd.v10i4.18819
  49. Topçuoğlu, E., Oktaysoy, O., Erdoğan, S. U., & Karatepe, S. G. (2023). İşsizlik ve girişimcilik kavramlarına bibliyometrik bakış. İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 15(2), 1276-1292.
  50. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). (2023). İşgücü İstatistikleri, 2023. Ankara: TÜİK. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Isgucu-Istatistikleri-2023-53521
  51. Wang, Y. M., & Lin, Y. S. (2016). Determinants of internet entrepreneurship intentions among business school students. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 6(10), 754-758. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIET.2016.V6.787
  52. Weerasiri, A. & Samaraweera, G. (2021). Factors influencing youth unemployment in Sri Lanka. Asian Journal of Management Studies, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.4038/ajms.v1i1.27
  53. Yalçın, Y. G. (2022). Unemployment anxiety and hopelessness in university students. Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns, 3(2), 130-146. https://doi.org/10.53016/jerp.v3i2.67
  54. Yasar, O. M., & Turgut, M. (2020). Unemployment Anxiety of Last Year College Students. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 15(1), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v15i1.4588
  55. Yavuz, M., & Karaman, S. (2023). Components of Digital Transformation and Digital Transformation in Higher Education: Conceptual Framework Proposal. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 20(3), 1133-1186.
  56. Zaheer, H., Breyer, Y., & Dumay, J. (2019). Digital entrepreneurship: An interdisciplinary structured literature review and research agenda. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 148, 119735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119735
  57. Zenger, M., Hinz, A., Petermann, F., Brähler, E., & Stöbel-Richter, Y. (2013). Health and quality of life within the context of unemployment and job worries. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 63(3-4), 129-137. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1332989
  58. Zeynalov, S., & Doğantan, E. (2025). The Effect of Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship Education on Digital Entrepreneurship Intention: The Mediating Role of Personal Innovativeness. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-025-09821-1
  59. Zhao, L., He, Q., Guo, L., & Sarpong, D. (2023). Organizational digital literacy and enterprise digital transformation: Evidence from Chinese listed companies. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3241411
  60. Arena, A. F., Mobbs, S., Sanatkar, S., Williams, D., Collins, D., Harris, M.,. & Deady, M. (2023). Mental health and unemployment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to improve depression and anxiety outcomes. Journal of affective disorders, 335, 450-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.027