Psychological Capital as Predictor of Public Service Motivation: Evidence from Taiwan

• In Event: 447 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 08. Organizational Dynamics

Abstract

Research on positive organizational behaviors has demonstrated the potential of psychological capital in predicting various workplace outcomes. The relationship between the Positive Psychological Capital (PsyCap) (Luthans, Youssef, & Avolio, 2007) and Public Service Motivation (PSM) (Perry & Wise, 1990) was therefore examined in this study using a questionnaire survey of 311 public servants employed by 5 local governments in Taiwan. Regression analysis results indicated that psychological capital was positively related to all dimensions of PSM. Similarly, our findings also reveal that individuals with high psychological capital reported higher levels of PSM as compared to their low PsyCap counterparts. In summary, positive psychological capital can function as strong predictor of public service motivation.

Author

• Chyi-Lu Jang, National Sun Yat-Sen University