Hope and expectancies for future events in depression

Abstract

The present study investigated prospective cognition with the Hope scale (Snyder et al., 1991) and the Unrealistic Optimism Scale (Weinstein, 1980) in clinically depressed (CD; n = 61), previously depressed (PD; n = 42), and never depressed controls (ND; n = 46). In line with previous research, significant negative correlations between hope and symptoms of depression were found. Previously depressed reported lower levels of hope than NDs, but were more hopeful than CDs. In addition, relationships between depressive symptoms, dysfunctional attitudes, and expectations for the future were examined. As hypothesized, the CDs estimated their probability of experiencing positive events in the future as lower and their probability of experiencing negative events as higher than the two other groups. The PDs differed not from the NDs in their probability estimates. Implications of the findings are discussed.

This too shall pass: Temporal distance and the regulation of emotional distress.

“…Similar to people high in worry, individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and those with mild to moderate depressive symptoms expect to experience more negative future events, and are more likely to believe that potential negative future events will come to pass than individuals low in depressive symptoms (MacLeod & Byrne, 1996;Miranda & Mennin, 2007;Thimm, Holte, Brennen, & Wang, 2013). However, unlike individuals solely prone to worry and anxiety, those additionally prone to depression also expect fewer future positive events to occur, and are less likely to believe that potential positive future events will actually materialize (e.g., Bjarehed, Sarkohi, & Andersson, 2010;MacLeod & Byrne, 1996;Miranda & Mennin, 2007;Thimm et al, 2013). In light of their future expectancies, it is unsurprising that depressed individuals commonly report feeling hopeless about the future (Thimm et al, 2013;Miranda et al, 2008;Alloy & Ahrens, 1987).…”

“…However, unlike individuals solely prone to worry and anxiety, those additionally prone to depression also expect fewer future positive events to occur, and are less likely to believe that potential positive future events will actually materialize (e.g., Bjarehed, Sarkohi, & Andersson, 2010;MacLeod & Byrne, 1996;Miranda & Mennin, 2007;Thimm et al, 2013). In light of their future expectancies, it is unsurprising that depressed individuals commonly report feeling hopeless about the future (Thimm et al, 2013;Miranda et al, 2008;Alloy & Ahrens, 1987).…”

Happiness and its relation to psychological well-being of adolescents

“…Hopefulness was measured by the Snyder's Hopefulness Scale (Thimm et al, 2013) which includes 12 items. Responses for items are coded by a 4 Likert-type scale, from 1 (definitely false) to 4 (definitely true).…”

The value of hope: development and validation of a contextual measure of hope among people living with HIV in urban Tanzania a mixed methods exploratory sequential study

“…Interventions that aim to increase hope have been reported across the globe to help patients cope with difficult situations such as living with chronic or incurable disease, cope with the process of aging, adherence to prolonged care procedures and daily medications [13][14][15][16] as well as reducing depressive, anxiety symptoms and increasing healthier lifestyles [17]. Hope has a negative association with depression, anxiety, mixed depression and anxiety and less specific psychological distress [18,19] and is frequently applied for managing hopelessness and preventing mild to moderate mood disorders [20][21][22][23]. Hope is also a mediator of resilience, well-being [24], and in general population health being hopeful contributes to reductions in all-cause mortality [25].…”