Boosting human and social capital in the university: The role of seeking challenges on academic performance

Emanuela Ingusci, Fulvio Signore, Paola Pasca, Alessia Catalano, Silvia De Masi, Giovanni Mattia Gioia, Amelia Manuti, Monica Molino, Paola Spagnoli, Claudio Giovanni Cortese

Accepted April 30, 2020

First published April 30, 2020

https://doi.org/10.26387/bpa.287.3

Abstract

Drawing and adapting the Job Demands-Resources Model to the academic context, the study aimed at exploring how students manage academic study demands by seeking challenges and adopting their human (e.g. meta-competencies) and social capital (e.g. networking) to improve their academic performance. 152 undergraduate
psychology students were asked to fill out an online anonymous questionnaire, whose reliability was assessed. Analyses through four latent variables (seeking challenges, meta-competencies, networking and academic performance) were
carried out through PLS-SEM, a non-parametrical approach to Structural Equation Modelling, while Bootstrap validation with n = 200 strengthened model validity. Results showed a direct, positive, significant structural relationship between
students’ seeking challenges, meta-competencies and networking; moreover, the additional, indirect, presence of human capital arises in the relationship between seeking challenges and academic performance.

Boosting human and social capital in the university: The role of seeking challenges on academic performance

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Ingusci Emanuela . Signore Fulvio . Pasca Paola . Catalano Alessia . De Masi Silvia . Gioia Giovanni Mattia . Manuti Amelia . Molino Monica . Spagnoli Paola . Cortese Claudio Giovanni . Boosting human and social capital in the university: The role of seeking challenges on academic performance. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2020;287(1):30-42. doi:10.26387/bpa.287.1.

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Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title. Year Published;Volume number(Issue number):Pages Used. doi:DOI Number.


Ingusci Emanuela . Signore Fulvio . Pasca Paola . Catalano Alessia . De Masi Silvia . Gioia Giovanni Mattia . Manuti Amelia . Molino Monica . Spagnoli Paola . Cortese Claudio Giovanni . Boosting human and social capital in the university: The role of seeking challenges on academic performance. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2020;287(1):30-42. doi:10.26387/bpa.287.1.