Minority status and self-employment: The mediating role of personal initiative, Emmanuel Wandera, Nkote Nabeta

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the mediating role of personal initiative in the relationship between minority status and self-employment among self-employed women in Uganda. Methods: This study employed a cross sectional survey design to collect data from 203 self-employed women to test for the study hypothesis using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using Smartpls version 3.2.9 professional. Findings: Findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between minority status and self-employment, and partial mediating role of personal initiative in the relationship between minority status and self-employment at 95% confidence interval. Implication: The findings of this research provide useful insights into the role of minority status in boosting self-employment among women. Personal initiative is not only a booster of self-employment but also enhances the ability of women to start enterprises for their survival. Limitations: The study was cross sectional hence imposing a limitation on changes in perception over time. Therefore, a longitudinal study in future is necessary. Besides, data were collected from self-employed women in Uganda. Above all, this study only considers minority status and personal initiative in explaining self-employment and yet there are other factors that could be explored. Originality/Value: This paper examines the mediating role of personal initiative in the relationship between minority status and self-employment in the context of minority women in a Uganda, against the auspice of middleman minority and personal initiative theory.