Positive Psychological Capital: Measurement and Relationship With Performance and Satisfaction

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to analyze how hope, resilience, optimism, and efficacy individually and as a composite higher‐order factor predicted work performance and satisfaction. Results from Study 1 provided psychometric support for a new survey measure designed to assess each of these 4 facets, as well as a composite factor. Study 2 results indicated a significant positive relationship regarding the composite of these 4 facets with performance and satisfaction. Results from Study 2 also indicated that the composite factor may be a better predictor of performance and satisfaction than the 4 individual facets. Limitations and practical implications conclude the article.

Analysis of competencies for effective virtual team leadership in building successful organisations

“…Bergiel et al further argued that the ability of virtual leaders to communicate effectively and efficiently to their members in a varied place and time is a key competence needed for virtual team success. Luthans and Youssef (2004), Luthans et al (2007), and Kurt (2012) stated four components of personal characteristics that are essential in virtual leadership for project success. They include: selfefficacy, which is the individual's confidence in their ability to complete specific tasks or specified tasks; hope, which is conceptualised as the cognitive ability to set realistic, yet challenging goals, and then developing paths and controlling behaviour in order to attain certain goals; optimism is the expectation of positive and desirable future outcomes, of course, optimism must be flexible and realistic; and resilience, the ability to come back from adversity or failure and at the same time pushing forward without discouragement.…”

The role of relational resilience in teachers’ career-long commitment and effectiveness

“…Goodwin (2005), from a psychological perspective, maintains that 'close relationships act as important 'social glue', helping people deal with the uncertainties of their changing world ' ( , p. 615, cited in Edwards, 2007. In positive psychology, particular attention has been given to the importance of relationship-based assets and their contribution to resilience (Masten, 2001;Gorman, 2005;Luthans et al, 2007). Luthar (2006) argues that 'Resilience rests, fundamentally, on relationships ' (2006, p. 780).…”

Experimentally analyzing the impact of leader positivity on follower positivity and performance

“…While recent studies have examined the role of positive leader characteristics on firm performance (e.g., Peterson, Walumbwa, Byron & Myrowitz, 2009) and the role of trust and transparency (Norman, Avolio, & Luthans, in press), we extend this previous research by examining how the leaders' level of conveyed positivity impacts followers positivity and performance. Leader and follower positivity were each comprised of four components that Luthans and his colleagues have called psychological capital (see Luthans, Avolio, Avey & Norman, 2007;Luthans, Youssef & Avolio, 2007), including confidence or efficacy, hope, optimism and resiliency.…”