This research examined the relationship among Psychological Capital (PsyCap), Autonomous Motivation (AM) and Academic Performance (AP) in university settings. A sample of 225 college students (Mage = 21.34, 169 females) was collected from G University and data analysis showed that: 1) PsyCap as a whole composite can positively predict grade point average (GPA) and AM; 2) Only hope showed a significant association with GPA among the 4 individual constructs of PsyCap (hope, resilience, self-efficacy, optimism); 3) Hope and self-efficacy were positive predictors while resilience was a negative predictor of AM; 4) AM had a mediating role between PsyCap and GPA. Implications for possible educational intervention to improve college students’ academic performance, especially the role of hope, were also discussed.
Cite this paper
Liu, J. and Huang, S. (2022). A Study on University Students’ Psychological Capital and Academic Performance: Autonomous Motivation as the Mediator. Open Access Library Journal, 9, e8941. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108941.
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