Personality Traits, Social Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Social Entrepreneurial Intention: The Moderating Role of Gender

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of Big Five personality traits, social self-efficacy, and social support on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) and how gender differences moderate the relationships among the associated variables. Data from business students of two public universities of Bangladesh were collected using questionnaires yielding a total sample of 354 students. Structural equation modelling (SEM) with a partial least squares method was applied to analyse the data. The findings of this study revealed that agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, emotional stability, openness, social self-efficacy, and social support significantly influence SEI. The result also showed that gender has a moderating effect on being a social entrepreneur in some instances. This study will help policymakers, and academic scholars understand how personality aspects and social support influence business students in their intention process to become social entrepreneurs. This study integrates both individual and situational factors to understand SEI. This study also incorporates social self-efficacy into SEI research. It is one of the very few studies in social entrepreneurship literature to investigate the moderating role of gender on SEI.

Acknowledgments

This paper is a part of a research study (unpublished) submitted to the Asian Institute of Technology as partial fulfillment of the degree requirement.