Abstract
Background: Psychological Capital (PsyCap) consists of a set of internal resources an individual can access to navigate challenges and enhance job performance, satisfaction, and overall success. External factors within the academic environment may influence PsyCap.
Purpose: The purpose was to explore PsyCap among nursing faculty and the impact of external factors on PsyCap and intent to seek leadership development.
Methods: An exploratory descriptive study was conducted to examine nursing faculty's perceptions of their level of PsyCap through the Psychological Capital Questionnaire.
Results: Seventy nursing faculty participated. Faculty yield higher levels of PsyCap (M = 4.5). The level of PsyCap did not correlate with intent to seek leadership development. Results also suggested that organizational support was a positive predictor of PsyCap ([beta]= .26, t = 2.4, P = .021), and incentives for development were close to significant (P = .058)
Conclusions: External factors can hinder, promote, and predict PsyCap, yielding both personal and professional implications; however, further exploration is warranted.