Title: Crafting future entrepreneurs from emerging adults: what matters more - personality or context?

Authors: Tamara Jovanov Apasieva; Mila Mitreva; Katerina Fotova Čiković

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Economics – Stip, University Goce Delcev – Stip, North Macedonia ' Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics – Stip, University Goce Delcev – Stip, North Macedonia ' University North, Croatia Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, 48000 Koprivnica, Republic of Croatia

Abstract: This paper analyses the effects of an integrated set of factors - personality traits and contextual variables on the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of emerging adults. Data were analysed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for evaluating the model and stepwise multiple regression analysis for hypotheses testing. The key personality trait variable associated with the intent of emerging adults to open a business in future is the internal locus of control. (LOC) Two additional variables with significant association with EI are contextual variables: perceived barriers (PB) (a negative association) and perceived support factors (PS) (a positive association). Contrary to other studies, the authors did not find risk-taking propensity (RTP) to be associated with EI. This calls for additional research. The increase in emerging adults' social inclusion through self-employment is of great importance, so policymakers and the scientific community should search for the underlying factors that promote or hinder the entrepreneurial intentions of these young people.

Keywords: entrepreneurial intentions; personality traits; contextual variables; emerging adults.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.136197

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2024 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.31 - 56

Received: 31 Dec 2021
Accepted: 08 Jun 2022
Published online: 22 Jan 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article