Crafting future entrepreneurs from emerging adults: what matters more - personality or context?

This paper analyses the effects of an integrated set of factors - personality traits and contextual variables on the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of emerging adults. Data were analysed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for evaluating the model and stepwise multiple regression analysis for hypotheses testing. The key personality trait variable associated with the intent of emerging adults to open a business in future is the internal locus of control. (LOC) Two additional variables with significant association with EI are contextual variables: perceived barriers (PB) (a negative association) and perceived support factors (PS) (a positive association). Contrary to other studies, the authors did not find risk-taking propensity (RTP) to be associated with EI. This calls for additional research. The increase in emerging adults' social inclusion through self-employment is of great importance, so policymakers and the scientific community should search for the underlying factors that promote or hinder the entrepreneurial intentions of these young people.