The Relationships between Psychological Capital and GPA: A Study of One Freshmen Cohort

Abstract

This survey research study examined the relationships between psychological capital and GPA among a cohort of college freshmen attending a small private residential liberal arts college. The survey, consisting of measures of psychological capital and demographic variables, received a response rate of 76% (n=388). Each psychological capital construct – hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism – had a positive and statistically significant relationship with academic performance as measured by GPA. Psychological capital, and all four psychological constructs – hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism – were statistically significant predictors of spring semester GPA.