[Relationship between hope and subjective well-being: reliability and validity of the dispositional Hope Scale, Japanese version]

Abstract

We conducted three studies to translate the Snyder Hope Sales into Japanese, examine reliability and validity of the Japanese version, and investigate the relationship between the tendency to be hopeful and subjective well-being. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analysis was performed of the Hope Scale in the Japanese version: agency and pathways. Its test-retest reliability coefficients for the data from 113 undergraduates ranged from .81 to .84. In Study 2, concurrent validity of the Japanese version Hope Scale was examined with the data from 550 respondents, which looked at the correlations between hope and optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Results suggested that the Japanese version had high validity. In addition, the tendency to be hopeful had negative correlations with stress response, hopelessness, depressive tendency, and trait anxiety, and positive one with feeling of happiness. In Study 3, 175 undergraduates completed the Hope Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) immediately prior to final examinations. Results of regression analysis suggested that the tendency to be hopeful moderated examination anxiety. Taken together, results of the studies supported the hypothesis that hope had positive effects on subjective well-being.