Personality Characteristics as Predictors of Temporary Labor Migration Intentions and The Moderating Role of Family Influence: A Case of Prospective Ugandan Female Migrant Domestic Workers to Saudi Arabia

Abstract

With the rising number of temporary migrant workers, there is growing scholarly interest in understanding the factors shaping labor migration intention. This study examined the role of personality characteristics in predicting labor migration intention as housemaids among prospective female migrant domestic workers from Uganda to the Middle East. Personality characteristics included the Big Five factor model, which categorizes personality into five broad dimensions; and core self-evaluation, which reflects the fundamental assessments people make of themselves. Data was obtained from female Ugandan university students (N = 365). According to our regression analyses, among Big Five traits, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and (tentatively) Neuroticism positively predicted labor migration intention, whereas Openness and Agreeableness did not. Core self-evaluation negatively predicted labor migration intention and explained additional variances beyond Big Five factor traits. Furthermore, family influence moderated the link between Extraversion and labor migration intention as well as Openness and labor migration intention. These findings pave way for more empirical studies aimed at understanding the influence of psychological characteristics on temporary labor migration, especially in Global South contexts. They also contribute to literature through extending personality studies to lower-level jobs and affirming the role of family influence in labor migration decisions in collectivistic cultures like Uganda.