Psychological Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intention: The Role of Personality, Self-Efficacy, and Achievement Motivation Across Demographic Groups

Abstract This study examined the psychological determinants of entrepreneurial intention by analysing the roles of personality traits, Self-Efficacy, and Achievement Motivation across diverse demographic groups in Malaysia. Data were collected from 506 respondents representing varied ages, educational levels, employment categories, marital statuses, household incomes, ethnic backgrounds, and geographic locations. Descriptive results indicated generally high mean scores across all constructs, suggesting that respondents perceive themselves as confident, motivated, imaginative, and capable—attributes conducive to entrepreneurial engagement. One-way ANOVA findings showed no significant differences in personality traits, Self-Efficacy, Achievement Motivation, or Entrepreneurial Intention across demographic variables, indicating that these psychological characteristics remain stable regardless of socio-economic background; the only exception was a significant location-based effect on Extraversion. Correlation analysis revealed strong, positive, and statistically significant relationships among all variables, demonstrating that personality traits are closely linked to both Self-Efficacy and Achievement Motivation, which in turn strongly relate to Entrepreneurial Intention. Overall, the findings highlight that psychological factors—rather than demographic attributes—play a central role in shaping entrepreneurial intention, emphasizing the importance of internal dispositions, confidence, and motivation in driving entrepreneurial aspirations. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Intention, Personality Traits, Self-Efficacy, Achievement Motivation