Journal article
Nurturing psychological capital: an examination of organizational antecedents: the role of employee perceptions of teamwork, training opportunities and leader–member exchange
Personnel Review, Vol.50(9), pp.1854-1872
03/12/2021
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Abstract
Purpose – This paper uses conservation of resources (COR) theory to examine antecedents of psychological
capital (PsyCap). Past research shows that employees with high personal resources such as PsyCap also have
high work performance. Hence, organizations need information about how to enhance PsyCap. This paper
extends existing research by examining potential antecedents of PsyCap. A total of three potential antecedents
are tested, including perceptions of individual-level cooperation between employees (i.e. teamwork),
relationships between employees and their supervisors (i.e. supervisor–subordinate relationships) and a
human resource (HR) practice (i.e. training opportunities).
Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to compare the impact of
organizational factors on US and Australian employees’ PsyCap.
Findings – The results indicate a significant direct effect of leader–member exchange (LMX) onto PsyCap and
a significant indirect effect between LMX and PsyCap through teamwork and through training opportunities
for employees in Australia and the USA. Teamwork and training opportunities partially mediate the impact of
LMX onto PsyCap for both Australian and US employees.
Practical implications – Australian employees are likely to reduce their performance because of a perceived
loss of personal resources and/or may even experience burnout and/or become a stress-related workers
compensation statistic.
Originality/value – The findings suggest that employees in Australia perceived significantly lower levels of
supportive resources to draw upon, including from their managers and peers. On applying COR theory, when
comparing employees, it was observed that those who perceive fewer resources will be less equipped to produce
resource gains. Taking into consideration that employees require the use of resources to maintain personal
resources, Australian employees have fewer resources at their disposal to maintain their personal resources
(i.e. PsyCap).
Details
- Title
- Nurturing psychological capital: an examination of organizational antecedents: the role of employee perceptions of teamwork, training opportunities and leader–member exchange
- Creators
- Matthew J Xerri (Author) - Griffith UniversityBen Farr-Wharton (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversityYvonne Brunetto (Author) - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Personnel Review, Vol.50(9), pp.1854-1872
- Publisher
- Emerald Publishing Limited
- Identifiers
- 991012964300402368
- Academic Unit
- Management; Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article