The Mediating Effect of eWOM on Emirati Motivational Factors and the Intention to Volunteer: The Case of the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics World Games 2019

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to examine motivational factors that affect voluntary intentions among Emirati citizens in the U.A.E. Good citizenship, expression of values, community concern and personal development have been previously found as motivational antecedents for volunteers. The relationship of these variables with volunteering intention for the 2019 Special Olympics World Games was examined and a conceptual model created. Model fitness was tested using LISREL structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that community concern and personal development have positive relationships with the intention to volunteer for the games. Mediation analysis demonstrates that eWOM is suppressing the effect of community concern on voluntary intention.