Development and refinement of an instrument to measure hope

Abstract

This article describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a measure designed to evaluate hope in adults, the Herth Hope Scale, which was completed by 180 cancer patients, 185 well adults, 40 well elderly and 75 elderly widow(er)s. The alpha reliability coefficients for the total scale ranged from .75 to .94 with a three-week test-retest reliability of .89 to .91. A negative correlation (r = -.69) was found between the Herth Hope Scale and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The multidimensionality of the construct was supported through the factorial isolation of three subscales: temporality and future, positive readiness and expectancy, and interconnectedness. These three factors accounted for 58% of the total variance in the measure. With refinement, this measure should enable exploration of the antecedents and correlates of hope in diverse adult populations. Further, hope enhancing strategies could be identified and examined for their ability to alter hope states.