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. 2023 Feb;33(3):247-256.
doi: 10.1177/10497323231151614. Epub 2023 Jan 27.

Does Hope Reverberate Between Generations?

Dorit Redlich-Amirav  1   2 , Denise Larsen  3 , Elizabeth Taylor  2
Affiliations

Does Hope Reverberate Between Generations?

Dorit Redlich-Amirav et al. Qual Health Res. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Intergenerational transmission refers to the transmission of stories, traits, abilities, ideas, behaviors, and various outcomes from parents to their children. To date, there has been little research on the intergenerational transmission of positive behavior, traits, and actions. To determine whether hope may be transmitted from one generation to the next, a qualitative study was performed, using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis. Over 4 months, four mothers of children with mental illness were engaged in repeated conversations about stories of hope related to their past and how they envisioned hope in their children. Findings indicated that hope could be transmitted to the next generation, either explicitly (verbally) or implicitly (i.e., expressed through actions involving one's children). We conclude that also positive patterns may be transmitted both explicitly and implicitly from one generation to the next. Transmitting hope between generations played a significant role in the mothers' experiences of hope.

Keywords: hope; intergenerational transmissions; mental health; stories.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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