Impact of Personality Traits and Sustainability Orientation on Social Entrepreneurial Intentions among Engineering Graduates: A Test of the Big Five Personality Approach

Abstract

The study intends to explore the relationship that exists between the big five personality traitsagreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness, and sustainability orientationand the intention of engineering students to engage in social entrepreneurship. The data were analyzed using SMART PLS software. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was distributed to 259 samples both in-person and online. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the impact of the big five personality traits and sustainability orientation on the intention to engage in social entrepreneurship.The reliability was assessed using Cronbach Alpha and Composite Reliability (CR), the multicollinearity was assessed using the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), and the discriminant validity was assessed using the Fornell and Larcker criterion and the Hetero Trait-Mono Trait (HTMT) ratio. The study identified that social entrepreneurship intention is positively and significantly impacted by the proxies of the big five personality traits, including openness, agreeableness, extraversion, and sustainability orientation. The research indicates that graduates from engineering whohavea strong focus on sustainability orientation, alongside their personality traits, tend to demonstrate an elevated desire and intention to set up social enterprises. The findings of the study provide policymakers valuable insights into crafting targeted incentives for graduates, aimed at fostering the growth of social enterprises.