Abstract:
In the South African education system, there is consistent concern about academic success and how it can be
supported. Using a positive psychology lens could add additional insight on aspects of positive psychological
functioning that may be associated with academic success. This scoping review examined literature on positive
psychology constructs identified in association with academic success in South African secondary schools.
Databases and other relevant sources were searched for studies implemented between 2007 and 2022. The
search strategy yielded 15 studies for analysis. The results indicate that out of 46 potential positive psychology
constructs, only 25 have been investigated in South African literature. The most researched construct was social
support, followed by achievement motivation, and hope.
