The Public Value of Psychological Capital: Evidence from Skilled Migrant Lecturers in South Korea

Abstract

Purpose: Psychological Capital (PsyCap), a positive psychological resource comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism, has been shown to enhance employee well-being and performance. However, its public value - particularly in non-Western contexts - remains underexplored. This article investigates the potential of PsyCap as a resource of public value by examining its effects on skilled migrant lecturers in South Korea. It explores whether PsyCap predicts key workplace outcomes that not only benefit individual employees but also support institutional and societal functioning.