Introduction: Literature suggests that psychological capital, comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism (also known as PsyCap), collectively contributes to an individual's well-being. However, little is known about the unique contributions of these individual components, as mediators, after accounting for shared variance.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), psychological well-being, and individual components of PsyCap. Specifically, it sought to determine whether each mediation pathway contributes independently to the relationship between early adversity and psychological well-being.
Method: A total sample of 263 participants (Mage = 30 years; SDage = 11.9 years; 81% Female) from Australia completed an online survey. By using parallel mediation analyses, results show that hope and optimism partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and psychological well-being. In contrast, self-efficacy and resilience were not significant mediators.
Conclusion: These findings highlight hope and optimism as key mechanisms linking ACEs and psychological well-being. Results provide a more nuanced understanding of the mediating role of PsyCaps and allow for the design of more effective interventions aimed at strengthening hope and optimism to improve well-being.