The standard measure of PsyCap — the higher-order positive resource of hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO).
OBEngagement, Well-being & BurnoutPermission neededalso known as: PsyCap Questionnaire
At a glance
Construct measured
Psychological capital (hope, efficacy, resilience, optimism)
Developed by
Luthans, Avolio, Avey & Norman (2007)
Original publication
Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 541–572. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x
(Self-)Efficacy (6 items) — confidence for challenging work tasks
Resilience (6 items) — bouncing back from setbacks
Optimism (6 items) — positive expectations about the future
Modeled as a higher-order PsyCap factor
Reliability (commonly reported)
Composite PsyCap alphas are commonly reported around .88–.95; component alphas are commonly in the .70s–.80s, with resilience and optimism occasionally lower.
Validity evidence
The higher-order factor structure is supported by CFA across many samples; meta-analyses link PsyCap to attitudes, well-being and performance. Component items were adapted from established scales for hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism, supporting content validity.
Populations & contexts
Working adults across industries and many countries; student adaptations exist.
Origin, translations & adaptations
United States. Translated into many languages; measurement invariance evidence is accumulating across cultures.
Licensing & permission
Permission required via Mind Garden (free for non-commercial research) The PCQ is copyrighted and distributed by Mind Garden, Inc. Non-commercial academic research use requires (free) permission obtained through Mind Garden; commercial use requires a paid license. Items may not be reproduced in publications.
How to cite (APA 7)
Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 541–572. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x
Short versions & notable variants
PCQ-12 — 12-item short form
Implicit and state-like adaptations appear in the PsyCap literature