Measurement of Psychological Capital in Spanish workers: OREA questionnaire

Psychological capital is a higher order construct made up of optimism, resilience, hope, and self-efficacy, which has a strong connection with different organizational variables. The aim of this study was to design a measure for assessing psychological capital in the workplace. Two samples of workers were used (N=238; N=338) belonging to Spanish companies from different socioeconomic sectors. Using the results of the first sample, and by means of an exploratory factorial analysis, a scale of 12 items was created. The 12 items included four triplets, each of which matches with one of the elements of psychological capital. The scale was called OREA (due to the names of these concepts in Spanish: Optimismo, Resiliencia, Esperanza, and Autoeficada - Optimism, Resilience, Hope, and Self-efficacy). This measure was then applied to the second sample, and a structural equation analysis was made in order to contrast a one-factor model with a four-factor model. The latter showed very adequate adjustment values (GFI= .943; CFI= .936; RMSEA= .07). We therefore conclude that the OREA questionnaire is a consistent measure of psychological capital in connection with the theoretical model, and it has sufficient evidence of reliability and validity.