The relationship between college students’ extraversion and entrepreneurial intention: The mediating role of perceived social support

Abstract

Our study presents the connection between extraversion, entrepreneurial intention, and perceived social support among college students, and draws from entrepreneurial event models, career choice theory, resource dependence theory, and buffer theory. We aimed to construct a relationship model linking extraversion, perceived social support, and entrepreneurial intentions, focusing on perceived social support as a personal resource. We conducted a survey involving 1,133 college students, employing the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory, Entrepreneurship Intention Vector Scale, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Notably, male students exhibited significantly higher entrepreneurial intentions than their female counterparts. Moreover, we found that perceived social support partially mediated the link between extraversion and entrepreneurial intentions in college students. In summary, extraversion directly influences entrepreneurial intentions, with perceived social support acting as a mediating factor within this relationship. This study sheds light on the interplay of personality traits and social support in shaping entrepreneurial intentions among college students.