Psychological capital and mental health: Twenty-five years of progress

Abstract

Psychological capital (PsyCap) is a multidimensional construct that includes the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (i.e., the HERO within). Positive organizational behavior, PsyCap, and positive psychology in general, have been very well received by both scholars and practitioners across the world in search of positive, proactive, and stigma-free approaches to success and wellbeing. Since its emergence about 25 years ago, numerous studies across the world support PsyCap as an evidence-based positive psychological resource that is open to development in various contexts and important life domains (e.g., life, work, health, relationships, families, school, military). Across these domains, PsyCap also has been empirically demonstrated to yield desired impact in terms of performance, attitudes, behaviors, physical and mental health, and wellbeing. This article provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the literature to date, with specific applications and practical implications for the impending mental health crisis in the workplace.