Positive psychological capital : a mediating factor between social skills and positive relations with others.

Abstract

This study examined associations between social skills, positive relations with others and positive psychological capital (PsyCap) – the latter characterized by four constructs of hope, optimism, resiliency and self-efficacy. Using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) mediation framework, it was hypothesized that PsyCap, hope, optimism, resiliency, self-efficacy would each be a significant mediator of the association between social skills and positive relations with others. 206 undergraduates, aged 20 to 30 completed a measure of social skills, the PsyCap Questionnaire, and the Positive Relations with others scale. The previously significant relationship between social skills and positive relations was significantly reduced in magnitude when mediating variables were factored in. Sobel tests illustrated effects of the various partial mediation models.