Exploring the Social Entrepreneurial Intentions of Senior High School and College Students in a Philippine University: A PLS-SEM Approach

Patrick Adriel H Aure

Abstract

This research explored the social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI) of senior high school and early college students through partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLSSEM). Anchored on the studies of Hockerts (2017) and Mair and Noboa (2006), this research extended their SEI conceptual model by examining grit (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews & Kelly, 2007), agreeableness (Donnellan, Oswald, Baird & Lucas, 2006), and prior exposure to social action programs as antecedents that are hypothesized to be mediated by empathy, moral obligation, social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived social support. Findings showed that for all respondents, the relationship of SEI with agreeableness are mediated by empathy, self-efficacy and perceived social support. Self-efficacy and social support mediated grit and SEI. To determine the difference between the drivers of SEI among senior high school and early college students, multigroup analysis was conducted. This study is relevant for proposing policies, regulations, and interventions that specifically target nascent social entrepreneurs at the early stages of their student lives.