Hope and Stress Resilience

Abstract

A sizeable literature has implicated hopelessness in the phenomenological experience of various mood disorders, vulnerability to psychopathology, and overall poor psychological functioning. By contrast, how hope contributes to resilience and well-being has been understudied. This systematic review integrates findings from cross-sectional, longitudinal, ambulatory, and experimental studies that investigate the impact of hope and well-being outcomes in both healthy and clinical populations. Although the literature is not without theoretical gaps and methodological inconsistencies, the pattern of findings suggests that aggregate or trait measures of hope provide the most consistent evidence of a direct association between hope and well-being in healthy and clinical populations. More limited empirical data exists on the protective effects of hope. The chapter concludes that more rigorous and theoretically informed research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the possible beneficial impact of hope on well-being.

Examining the longitudinal effects and potential mechanisms of hope on COVID-19 stress, anxiety, and well-being

“…Hope was measured at Time 1 with the Adult Hope Scale (Snyder, Harris et al, 1991), which is the most empirically supported measure of trait hope in adults (Rose & Sieben, 2017). Participants used an 8-point Likert scale to rate themselves on 12 items, including four items measuring agency thinking, four measuring pathways thinking, and four distractor items.…”

Hope, optimism, self‐efficacy, and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta‐analytic review of the protective effects of positive expectancies

“…A comprehensive literature review was conducted by searching databases (e.g., Lipsey & Wilson, 2001) and relevant review articles (Benight & Bandura, 2004;DiGangi et al, 2013;Long & Gallagher, 2018;Luszczynska et al, 2009;Ong et al, 2018;Paunovic, 1998;Schubert, Schmidt, & Rosner, 2015;Shand, Cowlishaw, Brooker, Burney, & Ricciardelli, 2014;Simmen-Janevska, Brandstätter, & Maercker, 2012), resulting in a total of 4,570 potential sources (See Figure 1). Database searches were conducted by entering the following search parameters in the Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress (PILOTS) database, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases through July, 2018.…”

“…Thus, while both generalized self-efficacy and coping-specific self-efficacy are conceptualized as enduring trait-like qualities, coping-specific self-efficacy pertains specifically to the domain of coping in the aftermath of a trauma or stressor. Hope, optimism, and self-efficacy are related to greater adjustment, well-being, and superior mental health in general (Carver et al, 2010;Conversano et al, 2010;Litt, 1988;Magaletta & Oliver, 1999;Ong, Standiford, & Deshpande, 2018). While these forms of positive expectancies are interelated, prior research suggests that they are distinct latent constructs in terms of their structure (Alarcon, Bowling, & Khazon, 2013;Bryant & Cvengros, 2004;Haanstra et al, 2015;Rand, 2009) and unique relationships with mental health outcomes such as life satisfaction, psychological well-being, hedonic well-being, and depression (See Rand, 2017 for a more comprehensive review).…”

“…Higher levels of selfefficacy are also associated with lower levels of emotional arousal (Bandura, 1982b). These forms of positive expectancies are associated with adaptive engaged coping and inversely associated with maladaptive avoidance and emotion-focused coping (Kumar & Kadhiravan, 2009;Luszczynska, Gutiérrez-Doña, & Schwarzer, 2005;Nes & Segerstrom, 2006;Ong et al, 2018). Though hope, optimism, and self-efficacy all appear to promote positive coping, they differ in key ways that may influence the degree to which they promote resilience in response to traumatic events.…”

Beyond resilience: Promotive and protective traits that facilitate recovery during crisis

“…Findings from past research indicate that hope predicts lowered stress and negative emotions, which over time builds resilience (Ong, Edwards & Bergeman, 2006), along with coping and guarding against dysphoria (Chang & DeSimone, 2001). Hope's positive effects on resilience are found to be consistent across studies employing clinical and non-clinical samples (Ong, Standiford & Deshpande, 2018). The promotion-oriented nature of hope has also seen this psychological strength to be associated with greater use of problem-solving abilities (Snyder et al 2002;Chang, 1998).…”