WeChat relationships maintenance behavior and social entrepreneurial intention under conditions of dual narcissism: the mediating role of social capital
Information Technology & People
ISSN: 0959-3845
Article publication date: 8 February 2021
Issue publication date: 17 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
As social networking sites (SNSs) gain popularity, they are being widely used by entrepreneurs to obtain social capital to carry out business ventures. However not all SNS usage behaviors promote entrepreneurship. Only when individuals actively participate in SNSs relationship maintenance behaviors they can obtain resources that are conducive to promoting social entrepreneurship. The aim of this study is to explore the role of WeChat relationship maintenance behavior (WRMB) on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) with dual narcissism as an essential antecedent that affects SNS use.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on dual narcissism theory and the theoretical framework that networking is a critical skill and activity for the success of social entrepreneurship, this study proposes a serial mediation model that explores the formation of SEI. This study collected data from a sample of 275 MBA students in China and applied multiple regression and confirmatory factor analysis techniques to test the research model.
Findings
The results reveal narcissistic admiration (NA) is positively associated with WRMB, while narcissistic rivalry (NR) is negatively associated with such behavior. And the positive impact of NA on SEI can be explained by WRMB and social capital paths, while the negative impact of NR cannot.
Originality/value
This research is the first application of dual narcissism in the field of SEI, which provides a new way to explain the antecedents of SEI under the social network. The findings provide an effective reference path for social entrepreneurship education in universities and educational institutions and enlighten the correct distinction between dual narcissism in entrepreneurial psychological consultation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 17BGL025).Ethical approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Citation
Wu, W., Su, Y., Wu, C.-H., Tsai, S.-B. and Yuan, Y.-H. (2022), "WeChat relationships maintenance behavior and social entrepreneurial intention under conditions of dual narcissism: the mediating role of social capital", Information Technology & People, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 392-409. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-04-2020-0248
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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