How does psychological capital develops among black employees in organizations and what practices can support their well-being ?
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- This research explores how psychological capital (PsyCap), composed of self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience is developed by black employees within organizational contexts shaped by systemic inequalities. Although PsyCap is traditionally considered as an individual and malleable resource, this study critically analyzes it as a construct influenced by structural, social, and relational dynamics. Drawing on qualitative data from sixteen semi-structured interviews with black professionals in Belgium, the study reveals that PsyCap often emerges in response to adversity, hypervigilance, and the need to overperform, rather than from supportive environments. Self-efficacy is often associated with the pressure to be beyond reproach, while hope and optimism are undermined by perceived glass ceilings. Resilience tend to be developed out of necessity than by choice. The findings emphasize the essential role of inclusive, culturally sensitive organizational environments in promoting equitable PsyCap development. The study therefore calls for a change in focus, from individual-based interventions to structural changes that recognize and address the lived experiences of marginalized employees.