Moderating Role of Self-Starting Behaviour in the Psychological Capital - Self Employment Relationship among Graduates in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating effect of self-starting behaviour in the relationship between psychological capital and self-employment among graduates. A survey of 311 self-employed graduates was conducted. A multihierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the moderating effect. Results showed that self-starting behaviour has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between psychological capital and self-employment among graduates. Specifically, high levels of psychological capital influence selfemployment at high level of self-starting behaviour, and vice versa. The novelty of this study is the use of psychological capital to explain self-employment and self-starting behaviour moderating between psychological capital and selfemployment. This, is against the use of psychological capital by other scholars to explain employees’ behaviours in organizations. More so, the education system/curriculum needs to be revisited in order to incorporate action learning so as to prepare graduates for self-employment. In addition, government should take keen interest in developing programs that will build and shape mind-sets. This study contributes in reducing the dearth of evidence of self-employment among graduates and by investigating the moderating effect of self-starting behaviour, it adds to literature in this area.

Keywords: Moderating effect, Psychological capital, Self-employment, Self-starting behaviour Paper type: Research