Mapping the Conceptual Structure of Psychological Capital as A Driver of Employee Performance and Innovation Through Scopus and VOS Viewer Bibliometric Analysis 2022–2026
Abstract
This study aims to map the development of publications, the conceptual structure, collaboration patterns, and research theme trends of psychological capital as a driver of employee performance and innovation during 2022–2026. The study uses a quantitative–descriptive bibliometric approach applied to 28 English-language journal articles indexed in Scopus. Data were retrieved on 1 August 2026, restricted to final-stage articles published in journals. Analysis was conducted using VOSviewer through network, temporal (overlay), and density visualizations, together with analysis of annual publication growth, subject-area distribution, affiliation productivity, country collaboration, and keyword occurrence. The results show that the number of publications increased from four articles in 2022 to eight articles in 2025, while the four articles recorded in 2026 represent partial, current-year data. The field of Business, Management and Accounting was the dominant category, followed by Social Sciences and Psychology. Nanjing University was the most productive affiliation, while China served as the hub of the inter-country collaboration network. Keyword mapping produced two clusters comprising psychological capital, innovation, leadership, innovation performance, and human. Psychological capital occupied a central position, while leadership emerged as the relatively most recent theme. The study concludes that research on PsyCap, performance, and innovation is experiencing growth, but its knowledge structure remains exploratory, geographically concentrated, and not yet fully integrated.