Education, Science, Technology, Innovation and Life
Open Access
Sign In

The Influence of Psychological Capital on Internship Satisfaction: A Systematic Study from the Perspective of Cultural Adaptation

Download as PDF

DOI: 10.23977/aetp.2025.090419 | Downloads: 2 | Views: 316

Author(s)

Ziping Yu 1

Affiliation(s)

1 Tourism and Social Administration College, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, 211171, Jiangsu Province, China

Corresponding Author

Ziping Yu

ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap) and internship satisfaction through a systematic literature review. Building on Luthans' foundational PsyCap framework and its Chinese cultural adaptation by Ke et al., this article analyzes how self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism influence internship experiences. Findings reveal that PsyCap significantly enhances internship satisfaction through multiple pathways, with interpersonal PsyCap dimensions (e.g., respect, gratitude) playing a particularly important role in Chinese contexts. The study identifies four key dimensions of internship satisfaction (working conditions, gains, relationships, and career development) that interact with PsyCap components. Results suggest that developing psychological resources can substantially improve internship outcomes, with important implications for educational institutions and employers designing experiential learning programs. The article concludes with practical recommendations for PsyCap development in internship settings and directions for future cross-cultural research.

KEYWORDS

Psychological Capital (Psycap); Internship Satisfaction; Career Development; Cultural Adaptation

CITE THIS PAPER

Ziping Yu, The Influence of Psychological Capital on Internship Satisfaction: A Systematic Study from the Perspective of Cultural Adaptation. Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology (2025) Vol. 9: 126-130. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/aetp.2025.090419.

REFERENCES

[1] Luthans F, Avolio B, Avey J, et al. 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
[2] Ke J, Sun J, Li Y, 2009, Psychological Capital: Chinese Indigenous Scale’s Development and Its Validity Comparison with the Western Scale. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 41(9) : 875-888. http://dx.doi.org/10.3724/SP.J. 1041. 2009. 00875
[3] Fang YN, Mou YX, 2022, The Impact of Internship Competency on Preschool Teacher Trainees' Career Identity: The Mediating Role of Internship Satisfaction. Journal of Chongqing Normal University (Social Science Edition), 42(05): 56-64. doi:10.19742/j.cnki.50-1164/C.220506.
[4] Mensah C, Appietu ME, Asimah VK, 2020, Work-based Social Support and Hospitality Internship Satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 27, 100242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2020.100242.
[5] Luthans F, Avolio B, Walumbwa F, et al. 2005, The Psychological Capital of Chinese Workers: Exploring the Relationship with Performance. Management and Organization Review, 1(2): 249–271. doi 10.1111/j.1740-8784. 2005. 00011
[6] Avey JB, Luthans F, Jensen SM, 2009, Psychological Capital: A Positive Resource for Combating Employee Stress and Turnover. Human Resource Management, 48(5): 677-693. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.20294
[7] Beal III L, Stavros JM, Cole ML, 2013, Effect of Psychological Capital and Resistance to Change on Organizational Citizenship Behavior. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology/SA Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde, 39(2), Art. #1136, 11 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v39i2.1136
[8] Avey JB, Wernsing TS, Luthans F, 2008, Can Positive Employees Help Positive Organizational Change? Impact of Psychological Capital and Emotions on Relevant Attitudes and Behaviors. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44(1), 48–70. http://jab.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/44/1/48
[9] Luthans F, Youssef-Morgan CM, 2017, Psychological Capital: An Evidence-based Positive Approach. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4, 339–366. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113324
[10] Qu H, Leung XY, Huang S, et al. 2021, Factors Affecting Hotel Interns’ Satisfaction with Internship Experience and Career Intention in China. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 28, 100311. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2021.100311
[11] Sanahuja VG, Ribes GG, 2015, Effects of Business Internships on Students, Employers, and Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Review. Journal of Employment Counseling, 52(3): 121-130. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec. 12010
[12] Ruslan S, Mohamad S, Juhari N, et al. 2021, Article Review: Internship Satisfaction Determinants Among Undergraduates in the Service Industry. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 11(1): 70-84. doi: 10. 5296/ijhrs. v11i1.17669
[13] Liu XH, Zhong DG, 2018, Survey and Analysis of Satisfaction with Professional Internship among College Students. Higher Education Exploration, (01): 124-128.
[14] Wang GQ, 2021, Research on the Satisfaction of Tourism Management Undergraduates' Internship Based on Two-factor Theory, thesis, China Master’s Theses Full-text Database, Liaoning Normal University, 45-48. https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27212/d.cnki.glnsu.2021.000255  
[15] Sui Y, Wang H, Yue,YN, et al. 2012, The Effect of Transformational Leadership on Follower Performance and Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital and the Moderating Role of Procedural Justice. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 44(9): 1217–1230. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1041.2012.01217
[16] Jiao NT, Zheng XM, 2019, The Influence of Hotel Interns' Psychological Capital on the Intention to Stay in the Job: A Study on the Role of Satisfaction and Perception of Organizational Support. Tourism Tribune, 34(02): 106-119. doi:10.19765/j.cnki.1002-5006.2019.02.015
[17] Ke JL, Sun JM, 2014, The Effect of Psychological Capital on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and Turnover Tendency. Research on Economic and Management, (1): 121-128. doi:10.13502/j.cnki.issn1000-7636. 2014. 01. 032
[18] Feng Y, Zhang Z, Zeng X, et al. 2023, The Influence of Internship Satisfaction and the Psychological Contract on the Career Identity Behavior of Fresh Graduates. Front. Psychol. 14, 1294799, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1294799
[19] Chen Z, Sun H, Lam W, et al. 2012, Chinese Hotel Employees in the Smiling Masks: Roles of Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Supervisory Support in Relationships between Emotional Labor and Performance. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(4): 826-845. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2011.579918
[20] Gong B, Chen X, Wang N, et al. 2025, The Relationship Between Psychological Capital, Stress, Micro-learning Environment, and Professional Identity in Nursing Interns: A Structural Equation Modeling Study. Front. Psychol. 16, 1458384. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1458384

All published work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2016 - 2031 Clausius Scientific Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.