HOPE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL STRENGTH Chan M. Hellman University of Oklahoma

Is Hope Important?

Well-Being? Well-being as the reduction of psychological problems? That is, going from a -8 to a 0 is well-being. In short, it turns out we have been most interested in understanding what is wrong with people.

Well-Being! Positive Psychology and Strengths Perspectives What if we studied what is right with people? What are the traits that allow children, families, and communities to thrive? What makes a life worth living?

The Desire to Flourish Be engaged in our activities (e.g., parenting). Experience positive emotions (joy) more than negative emotions (anger). Develop and maintain positive relationships, Find meaning in the pursuit of our goals. Achieve the goals we set in life.

The Desire to Flourish 24 strengths that enhance our capacity to flourish. Hope is consistently a top predictor of our ability to flourish.

HOPE DEFINED Hope is a belief that our future goals are possible and we have the power to make this future a reality. Hopeful individuals identify one or more pathways toward the goal; and can dedicate agency (willpower) toward these pathways.

EXPECTATION FOR GOAL ATTAINMENT HOPE THEORY Will Power (Agency) Way Power (Pathways) EXPECTATION FOR GOAL ATTAINMENT …agency without pathways is a wish!

HOPE THEORY Goals: Cognitive endpoint of purposeful behavior. Can be either short- or long-term in nature. Must be of sufficient value to motivate behavior. Pathways Thinking = Mental roadmaps to goal attainment. Ability to consider potential barriers with workable solutions. Ability to consider multiple pathways. Agency Thinking = Mental energy (willpower) to our pathway pursuits. Ability to self-regulate thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Connected to glucose levels in the blood.

THE EVOLUTION OF HOPE Selective Deployment of Willpower Selected Pathway Identified Goal Attention Detractors

THE BENEFITS OF HOPE Hopeful people experience improved social, psychological, and physical well-being across the life span.

The Power of Hope Each of us desires to live life well. Hope can assist us in overcoming our adversities to live well…or allow us to find ways to live well within the conditions of our lives.

Hope Research Agenda: Does hope predict adaptive outcomes? Does hope buffer the negative effects of stress and adversity? Can hope be improved by intervention and sustainable?

THE LOSS OF HOPE Goals are not clear, appropriate or attainable. Pathways are uncertain, not viable. Agency is spreadout

What is the opposite of hope? THE LOSS OF HOPE What is the opposite of hope?

THE LOSS OF HOPE HOPE RAGE DESPAIR APATHY Goal is significantly blocked. DESPAIR Unable to adjust goal. Pathways are unavailable. APATHY (Hopeless) Loss of Motivation

THE LOSS OF HOPE Low hope individuals recognize their deficiency in pathways and agency. Lower sense of long term goals. Often feel blocked from goals. Negativity and focus on failure. Lower self-control. Anxiety and depression. Lower self-esteem. Lower problem solving skills. Higher likelihood of negative behaviors.

Hope Can Be Measured ADULT HOPE SCALE (Snyder et al., 1991). 8-item self-report measure. Hellman, Pittman, & Munoz (2013). Reliability Generalization. CHILDREN’SHOPE SCALE (Snyder et al., 1997). 6-item self-report measure. Hellman, Munoz, Worley, Feeley, Gillert (In Press).

Hope and Adverse Childhood Experience Trauma and Hope: Hope and Adverse Childhood Experience High Hope Low Hope

Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Children are at increased risk for emotional, social, and behavior difficulties. Children experience: Increased anxiety and depression. Increased aggression and violence. Increased criminal behavior. Cycle of IPV. Additional stress associated with repeated separations, child custody battles, and family isolation.

CAMP HOPE and ACE The Average Number of ACE = 5.51*

THE POWER OF HOPE

THE POWER OF HOPE Correlating Child Hope to Adult Observations: Zest. Perseverance toward goals. Self control. Optimism. Gratitude. Curiosity. Social intelligence. Increases a child’s hope is associated with positive character development.

Family Justice Centers 7 FJC sites agreed to pilot a pretest posttest assessment. Measures included: ACE, Hope, Emotional Wellbeing, Subjective Wellbeing, and Survivor Defined Success. 90.1% Female. 16.1% had previously received FJC services. Hispanic (47.3%), Caucasian (28.1%), African American (12.6%), Asian American (3.6%). 57% living in own home/apt. 31% living in another’s home/apt.

ADVERSE CHILD EXPERIENCE 79.6% report a score of 1+. Average ACE = 3.30*. ACE Score CDC Study (N=17,337) Camp HOPE Children Blue Shield FJC Study (N=181) 36.1% 0.0% 20.4% 1 26.0% 4.8% 10.5% 2 15.9% 11.6% 3 9.5% 11.1% 12.2% 4+ 12.5% 79.4% 45.3%

BLUE SHIELD CALIFORNIA FJC Increase in Hope is Statistically Significant

BLUE SHIELD CALIFORNIA FJC Statistically significant Increase: Emotional wellbeing Subjective wellbeing Flourishing Higher scores in hope: Associated with improved wellbeing indicators. Associated with higher survivor defined success.

Parent-Child Dysfunction Parenting Stress Total HOPE AS A COPING RESOURCE FOR PARENTS AT-RISK FOR CHILD MALTREATMENT Parental Distress + Parent-Child Dysfunction Parenting Stress Total HOPE Relationship Quality + - + + Difficult Child

HOPE AS A COPING RESOURCE PCCT INDEPENDENTLY RATED CLIENT PROGRESS. Of those identified as making POSITIVE progress: 90% were high hope. PCCT INDEPENDENTLY RATED CLIENT READINESS TO CHANGE. Of those identified in the ACTION STAGE: 91% were high hope.

ON-GOING PROJECTS Individual and Family Well-being: Mindfulness and Hope: Trauma and Hope: US Army Chaplain Corp: Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness: Secondary Trauma and Burnout: Hope and Board Member Engagement: Hope in Organizational Performance and Turnover: Community Development: Olympia Washington: a hope informed community. How hopeful is Tulsa? Collective Hope:

Creating Future Memories of Success NURTURING HOPE HOPE Creating Future Memories of Success Progress Reinforces Pathway/Agency Relationship Viable Pathways Barriers are Considered and Pathways Adjusted Goal Setting Clarifying Goals Increases Agency

The Future Becomes Possible THE POWER OF HOPE. At the heart of change is our ability to understand the way things are and to imagine the way life could be. The Future Becomes Possible

Hope is a social gift

Hope Centered and Trauma Informed