오늘날 우리나라의 여성청년은 청년의 고용시장 악화와 더불어 경제활동에서의 높은 유리천장, 남녀간 큰 임금격차, 임신과 출산에 따른 경력단절을 겪는 열악한 상황에 놓여 있다. 국세통계포털에서 신규사업자의 남녀성비를 살펴보면, 다른 세대에 비해 청년창업에서 여성의 비율이 높은 것을 확인할 수 있는데, 이는 창업이 여성청년의 새로운 경제활동 대안이 되고 있음을 시사한다. 이에 본 연구는 여성 청년창업가의 특성이 경영성과와 사업 지속 의도에 미치는 영향을 살펴보고 이 과정에서 자기효능감의 조절 효과를 규명하고자 한다. 여성 청년창업가의 특성은 창업동기, 기업가정신, 배경적 특성로 하였고, 경영성과는 재무적 및 비재무적 성과로 하였다. 실증 분석을 위해 39세 이하 여성 청년창업가 중 창업 후 6개월 이상 7년 이하 사업체를 운영 중인 259명을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였으며, AMOS를 활용한 구조 방정식 모형 분석을 통해 연구 가설을 검정하였다. 주요 결과로는 창업 동기 중 자아실현 동기가 비재무적 성과에, 경제적 성취 동기가 재무적 성과에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 기업가 정신의 진취성은 재무적 및 비재무적 성과 모두에 긍정적인 영향을 주었으며, 위험감수성은 비재무적 성과에만 영향을 미쳤다. 반면, 혁신성은 경영성과에 유의미한 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 배경적 특성 중 다양한 경험은 재무적 및 비재무적 성과 모두에 긍정적 영향을 미쳤으며, 네트워크와 재무적 자원은 재무적 성과에만 긍정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 경영성과인 재무적 및 비재무적 성과 모두 사업지속의도에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤으며, 자기효능감은 비재무적 성과와 사업지속의도간의 관계에서 긍정적인 조절 효과를 보였다.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the influence of the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in small businesses on their business performance and sustainability intentions. Specifically, it investigates how entrepreneurial motivations, entrepreneurial spirit, and background characteristics impact financial and non-financial performance, and how these performance outcomes subsequently affect the intention to sustain the business. Additionally, the study examines the moderating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between non-financial performance and sustainability intentions, providing insights into the unique dynamics of women entrepreneurs in the small business sector. Research design, data, and methodology: This study employed a quantitative research design to analyze the impact of women entrepreneurs' characteristics on business performance and sustainability intentions. The research targeted women entrepreneurs under the age of 39 who had been operating their small businesses for more than six months but less than seven years. A structured survey was conducted with a sample of 259 respondents to collect primary data. Business performance was measured in terms of financial and non-financial outcomes, while the moderating role of self-efficacy was assessed in the relationship between non-financial performance and sustainability intentions. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS software to test the proposed hypotheses and validate the conceptual framework. Results: The analysis revealed that among entrepreneurial motivations, self-actualization motivation had a significant positive impact on non-financial performance, while economic achievement motivation positively influenced financial performance. Regarding entrepreneurial spirit, proactivity positively affected both financial and non-financial performance, whereas risk-taking was significant only for non-financial performance. Innovativeness, however, did not show a significant effect on business performance. Among background characteristics, diverse experiences positively influenced both financial and non-financial performance, while networks and financial resources were significant only for financial performance. Both financial and non-financial performance positively impacted business sustainability intentions. Additionally, self-efficacy demonstrated a moderating effect, strengthening the relationship between non-financial performance and sustainability intentions. Conclusions : This study highlights the critical role of entrepreneurial motivations, entrepreneurial spirit, and background characteristics in shaping the business performance and sustainability intentions of women entrepreneurs in small businesses. The findings emphasize that self-actualization and economic achievement motivations, as well as proactivity and diverse experiences, are pivotal for achieving both financial and non-financial success. Furthermore, the moderating effect of self-efficacy underscores its importance in enhancing the relationship between non-financial performance and business sustainability intentions. These results provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners to design targeted support programs that foster entrepreneurship among women, enhance their self-efficacy, and promote sustainable business practices.