Passionate to be a social entrepreneur in Saudi Arabia: A moderated mediation analysis of social entrepreneurial intention

Abstract

This study aims to unravel the determinants of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI).Using a moderated mediation approach, we examine the direct and indirect effects of prior experience with social problems, proactive personality, and social self-efficacy on SEI via social entrepreneurial passion for founding (SEP) as a mediator. This study is based on data collected from a survey using questionnaires completed by 283 Saudis.To analyze data and test the developed hypotheses, we used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses followed by structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect effects of the main variables on SEI. Our findings reveal positive relationships between prior experience with social problems and proactive personality and SEP with SEI. Surprisingly, no significant relationship was found between social selfefficacy and SEI; its effect was indirect through SEP. Finally, gender moderated the relationship between SEP and SEI. Academic contributions and practical implications are then proposed.

How do gender attitudes influence the relationships between perceived desirability, perceived feasibility and social entrepreneurial intentions?

“…In general, previous studies have analysed social intention or entrepreneurial intention in general in isolation (e.g. Hsu and Wang, 2019;Aloulou et al, 2023;Gomes et al, 2021). In contrast, this study highlights how social and entrepreneurial intentions are studied simultaneously, analysing whether they can be influenced by perceived desirability and feasibility.…”

“…In universities, students should be involved in social issues to be open to accepting and learning new values and ideas to solve social problems (Hossain et al, 2021;Ko and Kang, 2022). Social entrepreneurship trainers and teachers need to support and motivate students, build confidence, and share positive experiences in fulfilling their entrepreneurial role (Hossain et al, 2021;Aloulou et al, 2023;Ko and Kang, 2022). Engaging students in various volunteer activities during their academic training can offer a magnificent opportunity to understand, learn, expand their knowledge, and even develop skills to build self-efficacy and networks (Wang et al, 2016;Shahid and Alarifi, 2021).…”

“…However, adopting the SDGs requires sustainable solutions to social problems, and social entrepreneurs can serve as catalysts to provide unique, sustainable solutions to social problems while ensuring economic returns (Hossain et al, 2021). Social entrepreneurship is driven by passionate social entrepreneurs whose mission is to create social value and bring about social change and transformation (Aloulou et al, 2023). Social entrepreneurs bring change by providing employment and prosperity by reducing poverty, illiteracy, social exclusion and gender discrimination (Hossain et al, 2021;Akter et al, 2020).…”

“…, 2021). Social entrepreneurship is driven by passionate social entrepreneurs whose mission is to create social value and bring about social change and transformation (Aloulou et al. , 2023).…”

“…The social entrepreneurship literature indicates relatively limited prior theoretical and empirical research to identify precedents for social entrepreneurial intentions (Aloulou et al. , 2023; Zaremohzzabieh et al.…”