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

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.