Abstract
Background and Objective: The present study aims to examine the relationship between social capital, employees' innovative behavior, and professional learning communities, with the mediating role of nurses' creative self-efficacy.
Methods: This descriptive-correlational research was conducted among nurses employed at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. Out of a population of 1,500 employees, 310 were selected using stratified sampling. Data were collected using the Social Capital Questionnaire by Bourdieu (Jafari, 2021), the Innovative Behavior Scale by Kanter (1988), the Professional Learning Communities Scale by Lee et al. (2011), and the Creative Self-Efficacy Scale by Karwowski (2012). The validity of the instruments was confirmed through expert judgment, participant feedback, and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) via SPSS26 and SmartPLS3 software.
Findings: The results of the study indicate that social capital has a direct positive effect on creative self-efficacy and professional learning communities but does not have a direct impact on employees' innovative behavior. Moreover, creative self-efficacy acts as a mediator, establishing a positive indirect relationship between social capital and employees' innovative behavior.
Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, strengthening social capital through effective communication and increasing trust among employees can positively influence creative self-efficacy and professional learning communities. Additionally, creating suitable environments for the development of professional learning communities and providing opportunities for interaction and collaborative learning among employees can foster innovation and creativity.
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