Svitlana Kotenko, Valerii Olefir THE EFFECT OF A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL IN UKRAINIAN STUDENTS

(2025) Science and education, 3, 21-32. Odessa.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.24195/2414-4665-2025-3-3

Svitlana Kotenko, 
Postgraduate Student
V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University,
6, Svobody Square, Kharkiv, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0234-5021

Valerii Olefir,
Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor,
Head of the Department of General Psychology,
V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University,
6, Svobody Square, Kharkiv, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3552-3277

THE EFFECT OF A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL IN UKRAINIAN STUDENTS

SUMMARY:

In the contemporary educational environment, students face high academic, social, and emotional demands. Psychological capital - a resource-based construct comprising self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience - plays a crucial role in fostering academic engagement, reducing stress, and preventing burnout. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term training intervention designed to enhance psychological capital among female students of Ukrainian higher education institutions.The study involved 22 female students aged 18 to 30, randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention lasted 3.5 hours and included cognitive-behavioral, reflective, and positive psychology techniques. Measurements were conducted before, immediately after, and one month following the intervention. Psychological capital was assessed using the PCQ-12 questionnaire.Results of repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant increase in hope, resilience, and, partially, self- efficacy one month after the intervention. Optimism increased immediately after training but did not persist over time. No significant effects were found in the control group.The findings support the effectiveness of short-term interventions in enhancing the more “plastic” components of psychological capital. These results provide practical implications for the development of student well-being support programs.

KEYWORDS:

burnout, personal resources, psychological capital, self-efficacy, students, optimism, resilience, academic burnout, educational demands

FULL TEXT:

 

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