ESP-4291

Published

2025-11-28

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Vol. 10 No. 11 (2025): published

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Junjie Chen*, Nurul Ain Mohd Hasan, Syafila Kamarudin

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How to Cite

Junjie Chen, Nurul Ain Mohd Hasan, & Syafila Kamarudin. (2025). From CSR to Commitment: A thematic review of psychological capital and employee resilience in emerging economies (2020–2024). Environment and Social Psychology, 10(11), ESP-4291. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i11.4291

From CSR to Commitment: A thematic review of psychological capital and employee resilience in emerging economies (2020–2024)

Junjie Chen

Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Nurul Ain Mohd Hasan

Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Syafila Kamarudin

Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i11.4291


Keywords: perceived corporate social responsibility; psychological capital; employee commitment; organizational resilience; sustainable management

Abstract

This thematic review investigates the pathways through which Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) influences critical employee outcomes, specifically commitment and resilience, by focusing on the mediating role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap). We conducted a systematic analysis of 20 empirical studies published between 2020 and 2024, focusing on emerging economies and labor-intensive sectors. The synthesis reveals four dominant themes: (1) CSR's crucial function during crises as an adaptive mechanism for employee resilience; (2) enhanced employee commitment derived from industry-specific and context-aware CSR practices; (3) the mediating power of psychological and emotional mechanisms (such as trust and empowerment) that connect CSR to positive attitudes; and (4) PsyCap's pivotal role in translating CSR perceptions into sustained commitment and proactive behavior. Our findings confirm that employee-focused CSR (e.g., welfare, safety) effectively boosts the core PsyCap dimensions (hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy). This cultivated PsyCap, in turn, strengthens affective commitment and supports organizational performance. The discussion positions CSR-driven PsyCap development as both an essential recovery resource during uncertainty and a proactive driver of engagement. Theoretically, this study integrates strategic psychological mechanisms into the CSR-employee outcomes framework. It also provides actionable insights for managers in emerging economies who seek to design PsyCap-centered CSR strategies capable of fostering workforce resilience and organizational sustainability.

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