Exploring the Formation of Social Entrepreneurs’ Exit Intention via Life Satisfaction

Abstract

We explored whether two dimensions of life satisfaction would affect the relationship between prosocial motivation and entrepreneurial exit intention. Our proposed results delved into the “inner layer” (psychological status) to unveil the mechanism of how social entrepreneurs decide to exit. Findings from a sample of 317 entrepreneurs revealed that prosocial motivation decreased entrepreneurs' financial satisfaction, which increased entrepreneurial exit intention. But health satisfaction doesn’t have a mediating effect on the relationship between job-related stress and exit intentions. At the same time, we further reported that among our sample, the negative impact of prosocial motivation on financial satisfaction largely is stronger for males than females meaning males’ entrepreneurs are more likely to experience lower financial satisfaction due to prosocial motivation. Among the relationship between prosocial motivation and health satisfaction and exit intention, there is no evidence of this contrast exist.