congruent with the primary objectives of positive psychology (Dunn & Dougherty, 2005). Positive psychology calls for the examination of T he use of positive psychology approaches to help people manage life adjustment issues has received widespread attention in recent years. As the scientific study of human strengths and virtues, positive psychology encourages researchers and clinicians to consider human potential, motives, and capacities in an open and appreciative way (Sheldon & King, 2001). The core strengths of rehabilitation psychology and rehabilitation counseling are Objective: To evaluate Snyder's (2002) hope theory as a motivational model of community participation and life satisfaction. Design: Quantitative descriptive design using path analysis. Setting: Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Participants: One-hundred and sixteen participants with spinal cord injuries who were members of the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Paraplegic Association.
Results:The respecified path-analytic hope model of participation and life satisfaction fits the data reasonably well, with x 2 /df 5 2.58; GFI 5 .95; and CFI 5 .95. Participation-with indirect effects of causality, perceived control, resilience, agency thinking, and pathways thinking-explained 32% of the variance in life satisfaction. Causality and agency thinking-with indirect effects of perceived control, resilience, and pathways thinking-explained 40% of the variance in participation.
Conclusion:Synder's hope theory as a motivational model of participation and life satisfaction was validated with minor modifications to the model. The respecified model indicated that causality had a direct effect on participation; pathways thinking had a direct link to agency thinking; and pathways thinking only had an indirect effect on participation through agency thinking.