Title: Reality check: changes in business students' psychological resources as they move towards graduation

Authors: William L. Tullar; Dianne H.B. Welsh

Addresses: Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6170, USA ' Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6170, USA

Abstract: This study examines the trajectory of student psychological resources over the course of business education. Business education should equip students with positive psychological resources so that they can succeed. Most business school programs focus on the development of skills in communication, critical thinking, and quantitative, technological, and functional knowledge, while omitting training that affects students' psychological resources to succeed in business. This study employs the psychological capital (PsyCap) instrument to measure psychological resources. Comparisons of freshmen and seniors showed that freshman scored higher on four of the five PsyCap dimensions. Business students followed for two years showed significant drops in need for achievement and need for feedback. To counter reduced psychological resources, business schools should explore the implementation of training interventions. Future research should replicate longitudinal measures of business student psychological resources that have profound implications for business education.

Keywords: business school students; psychological capital; PsyCap; need for achievement; need for feedback.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.115318

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.43 No.1, pp.100 - 115

Received: 08 Jul 2019
Accepted: 19 Nov 2019
Published online: 28 May 2021 *

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