Why does psychological capital spark innovation differently? A meta-analysis across individual and team levels

Psychological Capital (PsyCap), a core construct of positive organizational behavior, is increasingly recognized for its role in fostering creativity and innovation. This meta-analysis synthesizes 35 studies to examine how PsyCap drives innovation at individual and team levels, exploring the moderating roles of cultural context, industry type, and PsyCap measurement approaches. Results reveal that PsyCap significantly enhances both individual and team innovation, with stronger effects at the individual level. Although cultural background does not exert a moderating effect on the relationship between PsyCap and individual and team innovation, the impact of PsyCap on innovation, especially at the team level, is stronger in collectivism than in individualism. Industrial characteristics has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between PsyCap and individual innovation, and the effect size in high-tech industries is larger than that in traditional industries. Furthermore, the choice of PsyCap measurement model (focused vs. extended) influences effect sizes, with context-specific models outperforming the standard four-dimension framework. Integrating resource conservation and cultural dimension theories, this study advances theoretical understanding of PsyCap's role in innovation and offers practical insights for designing targeted psychological interventions to boost organizational innovation. Future research should explore additional moderators and adopt longitudinal designs to uncover PsyCap's dynamic innovation mechanisms.