A multi-system psychological capital model for higher education academics: meta-ethnographic research

Introduction Academics in higher education face immense, systemic stressors that challenge their well-being. Current research on Psychological Capital (PsyCap) often treats it as a static, individual trait, overlooking the profound influence of the academic environment. Methods This study addresses this gap by conducting a meta-ethnography of 19 qualitative and mixed-methods studies (2020–2024) from diverse international contexts. It explores how academic PsyCap (hope, efficacy, optimism, resilience) is developed and eroded, utilizing the Multi-System Resilience Model (MSMR) and the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) framework. Results The analysis reveals that PsyCap is not a static trait but a dynamic ecological process. While resources such as mastery experience and collegial support (microsystem) build PsyCap, it is actively depleted by institutional pressures, often manifesting as 'cruel optimism.' This creates a paradox in which individuals are forced to be ‘resilient by themselves' against systemic failures. Discussion Interventions must therefore shift from individual coping to systemic, institutional reform.