Personal and Psychological Traits of University-Going Women That Affect Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Intentions

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze how personality traits and psychological profiles influence the detection of entrepreneurial opportunities by, and the intentions of, university-going women in the northwest region of Mexico. It also examines how business opportunities are decisive when it comes to awakening entrepreneurial intention. The moderating and mediating effects of the detection of business opportunities and the psychological profile are also examined with respect to the direct relationship between personal traits and entrepreneurial intentions. For this study, information was collected from 1197 students attending the Autonomous University of Baja California and the Technological Institute of Sonora through a digital survey (Google Forms) distributed via email during the second half of 2022. The PLS-SEM statistical technique was used to test the hypotheses of the proposed theoretical model. The results revealed that personality traits have positive and significant effects on the psychological profile and on business opportunities. However, it was clearly observed that one’s personal traits and psychological profile have little or no influence on entrepreneurial intentions. We also found that the psychological profile is the construct that most influences business opportunities. In addition, it was also highlighted that business opportunities contribute to awakening the entrepreneurial intentions of university-going women. On the other hand, it was revealed that business opportunities have a negative moderating effect on the relationship between the psychological profile and entrepreneurial intentions. Likewise, this study has shown that the detection of business opportunities and the psychological profile have indirect effects on the relationship between the personal traits and the entrepreneurial intentions of university-going women. This research contributes to the development and strengthening of trait theory, the theory of reasoned action, and the theory of planned behavior.