Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Psychological Capital Assessment Tool for University Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Environmental changes experienced by university students are contributing factors to their mental health problems. Therefore, enhancing students’ psychological capital can play a key role in preventing depression and promoting mental well-being. Objective: This study was aimed at developing a psychological capital assessment tool for university students and investigating the relationship between psychological capital, depression, and mental health status. Methods: This study was a pilot study with a cross-sectional design. A multi-stage random sampling method was employed to recruit of 409 participants from public and private universities in the central, eastern, and southern regions of Thailand. Data were collected using four instruments via paper from December 15, 2024, to February 28, 2025: (1) a demographic questionnaire, (2) the Psychological Capital Assessment for University Students, (3) a depression scale, and (4) a mental health status scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The 50-item-developed assessment tool consisted of five components: (1) problem-solving ability, (2) organized thinking ability, (3) self-regulation ability, (4) self-efficacy ability, and (5) relationship ability. The tool demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, with a content validity index of 0.84 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.90. Psychological capital was significantly negatively correlated with depression and mental health problems. Moreover, it accounted for 28% of the variance in depression and 25% of the variance in mental health status. Conclusion: The Psychological Capital Assessment for University Students has been proven to have acceptable content validity and internal consistency. It, therefore, can be used as a screening tool to identify students at risk of depression and mental health problems.