How can urban middle-aged participants increase their agricultural entrepreneurship volition during COVID-19? Evidence from South Korea

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study explores how urban middle-aged education program participants can increase their agricultural entrepreneurship volition (AEV) during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Design

We examined the direct and indirect effects of formal learning experiences (FLE) and informal learning experiences (ILE) on AEV. Multiple regression, mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation methods using Process Macro were conducted with 411 samples.

Findings

ILE and outcome expectancy had direct positive effects on volition, while FLE and social networking did not. Both learning experiences had indirect effects on AEV through social networking and outcome expectancy. The group who spent above 100 hours in formal learning had a moderating effect on the relationship between FLE and outcome variables compared to those who spent less than 50 hours.

Practical implications

Considering the limited middle-aged adults’ digital accessibility, developing user-friendly distance education guidelines, supporting social networking and ILE, and tailoring programs to individual expectations are required to encourage agricultural entrepreneurship.

Theoretical implications

Combining career transition perspective and migration perspective, this article contributes to a theoretical framework explaining urban middle-aged adults’ agricultural entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This paper approaches middle-aged adults’ agricultural entrepreneurship as a career transition event for their old stage of life and quantifies determinants of AEV during COVID-19.

KEYWORDS:

• Middle-aged Adults
• Agricultural Entrepreneurship
• Volition
• Adult Learning
• Multiple Mediation Analysis
• Moderated Mediation Analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Seong Ji Jeong

Seong Ji Jeong, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral scholar at the Ohio Education Research Center at the Ohio State University. Her research interests include agricultural and vocational education, such as agricultural entrepreneurship and agricultural literacy, as well as career transition and labor market outcomes.

Su Jung Choi

Su Jung Choi, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Department of Agriculture and Workforce Education, College of Agriculture and Life Science at Seoul National University. She has research interests in international vocational education and training and labor market outcome of vocational education and training.

Joshua D. Hawley

Joshua D. Hawley, Ed.D., is a director at the Ohio Education Research Center and a professor in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University. His research interest is the relationship between education and work, particularly on the role of governments in improving institutions such as public schools, universities, and workforce development organizations in training the workforce for tomorrow.