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. 2022 Jun 21:1-12.
doi: 10.1007/s12144-022-03339-w. Online ahead of print.

How does psychological capital lead to better well-being for students? The roles of family support and problem-focused coping

Haobi Wang  1 , Ting Kin Ng  2 , Oi-Ling Siu  2
Affiliations

How does psychological capital lead to better well-being for students? The roles of family support and problem-focused coping

Haobi Wang et al. Curr Psychol. .

Abstract

Recent studies have shifted the attention on the beneficial role of psychological capital from workplace to academic contexts. Moreover, the mediating role of psychological capital in the effect of social support on student outcomes remains unknown. This topic has become more imperative under the pandemic. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of psychological capital on students' well-being with family support as an antecedent and problem-focused coping as a mediator. Two hundred and eighty-one students completed the questionnaire at two time points. Results of the cross-lagged mediation analysis showed that family support positively predicted psychological capital, psychological capital positively predicted problem-focused coping, and problem-focused coping predicted well-being. Moreover, the chain mediation path between family support and well-being via psychological capital and problem-focused coping was significant. The current findings identify the antecedent and underlying mechanism behind the relationship between psychological capital and well-being, providing insights into psychological capital interventions for students.

Keywords: Psychological capital; Family support; Problem-focused coping; Well-being; COVID-19 pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The hypothesized model
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The reversed model
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The reciprocal model
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The final model. Note. Light dash paths are non-significant. Standardized coefficients are represented. Items and item parcels as well as error covariances of items are not displayed. * p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001 (one-tailed)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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