Development and Psychometric Testing of a Children's Version of the Herth Hope Index

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Hope in children is critical however multidimensional tools to measure hope are almost nonexistent. The aim of study is to develop and psychometrically evaluate a multidimensional children's version of the well-regarded Herth Hope Index for those 8-12 years old. Methods: Phase one; qualitative study of hope in children, construction of the Herth Hope Index - Child Version (HHI-C), and validation by focus groups. Phase two; pilot testing with 22 children. Phase three; psychometric evaluation with 125 children. Results: Cronbach's alpha of 0.856 with 3-week test-retest reliability of 0.966. Construct validity supported factorial isolation of three factors: (a) inner positive readiness; (b) interconnectedness with self and others; (c) temporality and future. Conclusion: Psychometric findings support the use of the HHI-C as a multidimensional tool to measure hope in children.

Keywords: child; hope; instrument development; multidimensional; psychometrics.