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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.
Although interest in hope is evident in nursing and health care literature, narrow conceptualizations of hope, as well as the lack of a psychometrically sound instrument to measure the concept, hamper research efforts (Hinds, 1984; Korner, 1970; Miller & Powers, 1988; Obayuwana, 1980; Owen, 1989; Stoner, 1988; Stotland, 1969). The limited research that is available suggests that hope is a multidimensional resource that contributes to adaptive coping during illness, and positively influences wellness (Hinds & Martin, 1988; McGee & Clark, 1984; Obayuwana & Carter, 1982; Stoner & Keampfer, 1985). Nursing's interest in hope is reflected in the recent development of multidimensional conceptual models of hope by Craig and Edwards (1983), McGee (1984), and Dufault and Martocchio (1985). To date, empirical validation of these models has been limited by a lack of measurement tools, which has resulted in nurses' relying primarily on intuition to assess the hopefulness of their clients (Hickey, 1986; McGee, 1984; Miller, 1985; Owen, 1989). This paper describes the development and psychometric testing of the Herth Hope Scale (HHS), a recently devised measure that attempts to capture the multidimensional aspects of hope.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Hope, often viewed as elusive and abstract, has been described in the literature as an intrinsic element of life (Riñes & Montag, 1976), an inner readiness for action (Weismann, 1973; Weiss, 1971), a perceived sense of the possible (Limandri...