Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
Over the past twenty-year, significant changes have taken place within the field of psychological research.
This has shifted from the traditional disease model-which focuses on curing mental ailments- to positive
psychology, which emphasizes human strengths and functioning (Gupta et al., 2019; Javid & Rehman,
2018). In today’s times, adults often have to face the difficult stresses of life- ranging from professional
demands and financial pressure to maintaining interpersonal relationships ((Gupta et al., 2019). While
external factors can indeed influence people’s emotions, most studies tend to focus on the internal strengths
and mindsets that help individuals perform better despite facing difficulties((Luthans & Youssef‐Morgan,
2017). This shift that has truly taken place has given rise to the concept of “Psychological Capital”. It
represents a perspective- a way of viewing things- that overcomes initial viewpoints. Rather than focusing on
questions such as “What do they have?” or “What do they know?” , it places greater emphasis on the
fundamental questions: “Who is a person at their core, and intro what are they evolving?” (Plessis &
Altıntaş, 2024; Sutton & Roemer, 2024).
1.2 Psychological Capital
Psychological Capital is defined as a core, higher-order construct that reflect an individual’s positive
psychological state of development (Plessis & Altıntaş, 2024). Its characteristics are rooted in four key
dimensions, collectively known as HERO model (Luthans & Youssef‐Morgan, 2017; Sutton & Roemer,
2024).
Hope: A hope represents a deeply motivating state that encompasses both willpower and the power of
the path (Plessis & Altıntaş, 2024; Sutton & Roemer, 2024).
Efficacy: The necessary self-confidence to undertake challenging tasks and to make every effort to
succeed in them (Luthans et al., 2007; Plessis & Altıntaş, 2024).
Resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, failure, or even overwhelming
situations (Luthans et al., 2007; Sutton & Roemer, 2024).
Optimism: A positive explanatory style in which individuals attribute success to internal and stable
factors, while viewing failures as external and temporary (Plessis & Altıntaş, 2024; Sutton & Roemer,
2024).
In contrast to stable personality traits, PsyCap is considered “state-like”. This implies that it is flexible and
offers scope for development through intentional interventions. (Javid & Rehman, 2018; Luthans & Youssef‐
Morgan, 2017)
1.3 Life Satisfaction
Life Satisfaction is a cognitive evaluation of subjective well-being (Diržytė et al., 2021). It represents a
stable, long-term, and holistic assessment that an individual makes regarding the quality of their life, based
on their own internal standards (Rodriques & Pieters, 2019; Shereda et al., 2025). While emotional well-
being encompasses day-to-day moods, life satisfaction serves as a more enduring indicator of mental health
and functional adaptation (Shereda et al., 2025). It is often regarded as the outcome of satisfaction across
various domains, including work, family, and health (Rodriques & Pieters, 2019).
1.4 Relationship between Psychological Capital and Life Satisfaction
The relationship between psychological capital and life satisfaction is grounded in the premise that an
individual’s internal resources determine how they cognitive evaluate the quality of their life (Shereda et al.,
2025). Extensive research has consistently demonstrated a strong positive correlation between the four
component of psychological capital – Self-Efficacy, Resilience, Hope, and Optimism – and life satisfaction
across diverse populations (Rodriques & Pieters, 2019; Sz et al., 2026).
Most importantly, while each component contributes in its own right, the entire ‘HERO’ framework function
as a cohesive unit. This unit proves more effective in predicting positive psychological outcomes than its
individual parts alone (Luthans et al., 2007). For instance, empirical studies have demonstrated that
psychological capital can, to a significant extent, predict life satisfaction with correlation coefficient values
typically range between 0.23 and 0.29 (Shan et al., 2022; Shereda et al., 2025). Individuals possessing high
levels of PsyCap are better prepared to deal with life’s inevitable stresses and setbacks. They see challenges
as manageable and maintain a goal-oriented perspective, leading to enduring results. They have a more
positive overall assessment of their lives (Gupta et al., 2019; Shereda et al., 2025). In summary, PsyCap acts
as a psychological safeguard that aids in converting individual skills into a feeling of ongoing well-being and
contentment (Shereda et al., 2025).
1.5 Research Gap and Rationale
Despite the substantial body of literature supporting the benefits of psychological capital, it suffers from
significant shortcomings that this study aims to address. First and foremost, a significant portion oof existing
research has been conducted within industrial and organizational contexts, focusing primarily on employee
performance, job satisfaction, and workplace productivity (Avey et al., 2011; Güneş et al., 2022; Lorenz et
al., 2016). Therefore, PsyCap lacks the core characteristics of a universal or non-domain specific resource
that impacts overall life satisfaction outside the work environment (Lorenz et al., 2016).
Most research within the HERO framework has used specific or limited samples- such as university students,
medical professionals, or teachers- which restricts how applicable these findings are to the general
populations (Güneş et al., 2022; Shereda et al., 2025). There is, therefore, a clear need for studies that
examine these psychological resources within a general adult sample, in order to understand how they
function across various life stages and social roles (Güneş et al., 2022; Unanue et al., 2017).
The rationale for this study is rooted in the state-like nature of Psychological [Link] contrast to relatively
stable personality traits, Psychological Capital is considered state-like and can be developed through
intentional practice and interventions (Javid & Rehman, 2018; Luthans & Youssef‐Morgan, 2017). This
research establishes the predictive power of Psychological Capital on Life Satisfaction within adult context,
offering the essential empirical foundation for creating psychological programs designed to boost resilience,
optimism, and overall quality of life (Diržytė & Perminas, 2021; Sun, 2025). Understanding these
relationships is crucial for developing creative proactive strategies that help adults not only survive but also
thrive while facing the challenges of today’s life (Luthans & Youssef‐Morgan, 2017).
APPENDIX-A