The impact of personality characteristics on the perceptions of youth in Qatar toward entrepreneurship: the moderating role of demographics

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the impact of personality characteristics on the perceptions of youth in Qatar toward entrepreneurship. The research also attempts to test the moderating role of demographics in the links between these two variables. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 194 full-time university students participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the collected data. The results demonstrate that personality characteristics play significant roles in shaping the perceptions of youth toward entrepreneurship. Although all six personality components were found significant, the committed, leader and outgoing traits showed the strongest associations with youth perceptions of entrepreneurship. Moreover, the findings also reveal that demographic characteristics significantly moderate the association between personality attributes and the perception of entrepreneurship. This study offers insights to policymakers and educators to guide strategic planning that considers the influence of personality traits on entrepreneurship, with the goal of enhancing entrepreneurial activity and promoting socio-economic development. The implications of the results for both researchers and practitioners are also discussed in the paper.