Mindset and emotional resilience, known as psychological capital, can improve the overall educational experience of students and teachers

10 Feb 2025

Portrait of Asian man and woman university student sitting on grass in campus looking at camera and smile and reading a book together in park.
UP Diliman

This paper delves into how the mindset and emotional resilience—referred to as psychological capital or PsyCap—of students and teachers in colleges and universities affect their success and well-being. Imagine PsyCap as an invisible toolbox containing optimism, hope, resilience, and self-confidence that everyone carries around. Just like a real toolbox, the tools inside can help fix problems or build something new. This study sorts through a mountain of research to map out what we currently know about this toolbox in the context of higher education, and where we might take our investigation next. By analyzing over 400 studies, the researchers identify key trends and gaps in our understanding of how PsyCap influences the academic world. For instance, they find that having a strong PsyCap can make students more engaged, motivated, and likely to succeed in their studies. It also shows that teachers with high PsyCap tend to be more effective and satisfied with their jobs. This research is like a spotlight, illuminating the importance of nurturing these psychological tools not just for academic success but for fostering a supportive and productive educational environment. The findings suggest that by paying more attention to developing PsyCap, educational institutions can help students and teachers overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and improve the overall educational experience. For anyone outside the academic bubble, think of it as a call to recognize and cultivate our inner strengths to thrive in life’s pursuits.

AuthorS: Li Zhang (School of Foreign Languages for International Business, Hebei Finance University | Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University), Walton Wider (Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University), Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi (Faculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah), Leilei Jiang (Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts, INTI International University), Jem Cloyd M. Tanucan (Cebu Technological University) and Lester Naces Udang (School of Liberal Arts, Metharath University |Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of the Philippines, Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26607

Mindset and emotional resilience, known as psychological capital, can improve the overall educational experience of students and teachers

This paper delves into how the mindset and emotional resilience—referred to as psychological capital or PsyCap—of students and teachers in colleges and universities affect their success and well-being. Imagine PsyCap as an invisible toolbox containing optimism, hope, resilience, and self-confidence that everyone carries around. Just like a real toolbox, the tools inside can help fix problems or build something new. This study sorts through a mountain of research to map out what we currently know about this toolbox in the context of higher education, and where we might take our investigation next. By analyzing over 400 studies, the researchers identify key trends and gaps in our understanding of how PsyCap influences the academic world. For instance, they find that having a strong PsyCap can make students more engaged, motivated, and likely to succeed in their studies. It also shows that teachers with high PsyCap tend to be more effective and satisfied with their jobs. This research is like a spotlight, illuminating the importance of nurturing these psychological tools not just for academic success but for fostering a supportive and productive educational environment. The findings suggest that by paying more attention to developing PsyCap, educational institutions can help students and teachers overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and improve the overall educational experience. For anyone outside the academic bubble, think of it as a call to recognize and cultivate our inner strengths to thrive in life’s pursuits.

AuthorS: Li Zhang (School of Foreign Languages for International Business, Hebei Finance University | Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University), Walton Wider (Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University), Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi (Faculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah), Leilei Jiang (Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts, INTI International University), Jem Cloyd M. Tanucan (Cebu Technological University) and Lester Naces Udang (School of Liberal Arts, Metharath University |Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of the Philippines, Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26607