Hope Test – Adult

Abstract

The Hope test- Adult, formally known as the State Hope Scale– Adult or the Comprehensive Hope Scale, State, is a psychological scale developed by Scioli and colleagues (2011). This instrument is designed to measure an individual’s current, or state-level, experience of hope, focusing on thoughts and feelings experienced over a recent, brief period (typically the past two weeks).

The scale differs from trait measures of hope by assessing the dynamic, contextual aspects of this resource, which are organized around four core dimensions: mastery, attachment, survival, and spirituality. The instrument includes 40 primary items rated on a 5-point scale, along with supplementary background questions designed to contextualize the respondent’s underlying philosophy of life and preferred coping mechanisms.

Keywords

Hope, State Hope Scale, Adult Assessment, Mastery, Attachment, Survival, Spirituality, Psychological Scale, Resilience, Coping Strategies, Social Support

Authors

A. Scioli, M. Ricci, T. Nyugen, E. R. Scioli

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Hope test- Adult is to provide a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of an individual’s current level of hope. By focusing on the “state” rather than the stable “trait” of hope, the scale allows researchers and clinicians to track fluctuations in an individual’s psychological resources in response to life events, therapeutic interventions, or acute stressors.

Furthermore, the scale aims to move beyond unidimensional definitions of hope by integrating critical domains of human functioning—cognitive competence, social connection, psychological resilience, and existential meaning. This holistic approach provides a richer profile of how individuals mobilize different resources to pursue goals and manage distress.

Construct

The Hope test- Adult operationalizes hope as a complex psychological construct defined by four essential, interrelated components, collectively referred to as the M.A.S.S. model:

• Mastery: This dimension reflects the individual’s sense of personal agency and competence. It measures the belief in one’s ability to exert control over the environment, engage in effective problem-solving, and make tangible progress toward desired life outcomes.
• Attachment: This component assesses the degree to which an individual feels loved, supported, and connected to significant others (friends, family, or social groups). Attachment serves as a vital external resource for comfort, guidance, and collaborative goal achievement.
• Survival: Survival relates to psychological resilience and the perceived capacity to endure and overcome current or future adversity. Items in this domain contrast feelings of efficacy and control with sensations of being “trapped” or depleted of options.
• Spirituality: This factor measures the reliance on spiritual beliefs, faith in a higher power, prayer, or meditation as a source of emotional comfort, inspiration, security, and guidance in navigating life’s challenges and pursuing personal dreams.

Validity

The foundational research by Scioli et al. (2011) established the psychometric foundation for the Comprehensive Hope Scale. Evidence for construct validity was sought through demonstrating that the four proposed dimensions (Mastery, Attachment, Survival, and Spirituality) accurately map onto the theoretical conceptualization of hope as a multifaceted resource.

Furthermore, the scale’s validity likely relies on its ability to correlate meaningfully with other related psychological measures (convergent validity), such as positive affect and coping efficacy, while remaining distinct from unrelated measures (discriminant validity), thereby confirming that the instrument measures the intended unique constructs of state hope.

Reliability

The scale exhibits strong internal consistency, confirming that the items within the overall 40-item scale and its respective four subscales are highly correlated and reliably measure their intended components. High internal consistency is crucial for a scale designed to assess complex, interrelated psychological constructs.

As a state measure, the expected test-retest reliability would be moderate over longer intervals, appropriately reflecting the transient and dynamic nature of the emotional and cognitive states being assessed (i.e., how one feels today and over the past two weeks), unlike stable personality traits.

Factor Analysis

The four-factor structure of the Hope test- Adult (Mastery, Attachment, Survival, and Spirituality) was confirmed through factor analytic techniques detailed in the original 2011 publication. This statistical analysis ensures that the variance in the item responses is best explained by these four distinct yet correlated factors, providing empirical support for the M.A.S.S. model.

The successful factor analysis confirms the scale’s multidimensional nature, allowing for the calculation of not just a total hope score, but also specific subscores that pinpoint the relative strengths and weaknesses an individual possesses across these four domains of psychological resourcefulness.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale (State measure)

Format: 40 primary items plus 3 sets of background philosophical and coping questions. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale.

Language Available: English

Population Group: General Adult Population

Age Group: Adult

Population Details: Suitable for use with adults in clinical settings, research studies, and general population surveys seeking to measure current psychological state and resources.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the extent to which they agree with statements regarding their current and recent thoughts and feelings (today and over the past two weeks). The scoring key is 0= None, 1=Little, 2= Weak, 3= Strong, 4= Extremely Strong. The instrument can be accessed online via the provided link: http://www.gainhope.com/hope/test_form.cfm.

Keywords

Psychometrics, State Measure, M.A.S.S. Model, Emotional Control, Social Support, Existential Well-being, Goal Pursuit, Spiritual Guidance

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically handled via the institutional email address provided (Keene State College affiliation).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and introduced in 2011 by Scioli, Ricci, Nyugen, and Scioli. Information regarding specific usage permissions, licensing fees, and administration rights should be obtained directly from the corresponding author, Dr. Anthony Scioli, via the provided email address.

Reference’s

• Scioli, A., Ricci, M., Nyugen, T., & Scioli, E. R. (2011). Hope: Its nature and measurement. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3(2), 78-97.
• Goetsch, Brian Lee. (2015). Effects of an Electronically Guided Prayer Intervention. Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Paper 162. This paper utilized the scale in research and is available here: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/psyd/162.

Items of the Hope test- Adult

Background Questions

A. Which of the following statements best describes your philosophy of life? (Choose one)

• Humans have the ability to control and ma‎ster nature.
• Humans must work hand in hand‚ cooperatively with nature.
• The human will is powerful but the forces of nature are superior

B. Where would you say that you place your faith? (Check as many as apply to you)

• In myself
• In God or a higher power
• In friends and family
• In nature and the Cosmos
• In science and technology
• In local and federal government

C. In times of stress‚ some people have a definite preferred way of coping. Others use a variety of coping strategies. Which of the following “works” for you? (Check as many as apply to you).

• I avoid the situation or distract myself
• I go into a problem solving mode (planning‚ considering options)
• I seek support from others (guidance‚ help‚ comfort)
• I pray or rely on my spiritual beliefs

My Recent Thoughts and Feelings: This section deals with your current and recent thoughts and feelings. That is‚ how you feel today and over the past two weeks.

1. I feel hopeful about achieving a major life goal.
2. I feel loved by someone.
3. My emotions are under control.
4. I have felt a spiritual presence.
5. I can turn to a good friend or family member to help me relax.
6. I am able to rely on outside help to achieve my goals.
7. I feel let down by someone that I trusted.
8. I’m able to rely on my spiritual beliefs to lesson my anxiety.
9. Everyday I’m getting closer to achieving my dreams.
10. I feel very close to a friend or family member.
11. I feel “trapped” in some part of my life.
12. I draw inspiration from my spiritual beliefs.
13. I’m finding it hard to trust people.

14. A good way for me to reduce stress is to spend time with my friends and/or family.
15. I feel supported in reaching my goals.
16. I have felt connected to a spiritual force.
17. I feel calm and collected.
18. I have used prayer or meditation to help me accomplish an important goal.
19. I feel like I’ve “dug myself into a hole”‚ and there is “no way out”.
20. I have used prayer or meditation to help me reduce my worries.
21. I’m making progress towards important goals.
22. I feel part of a group.
23. I can handle any current or future difficulties.
24. I felt very close to a higher power or spiritual force.
25. My friends or family are helping me to lower my anxiety.
26. I’m accomplishing a lot because of the help I get from family and friends.
27. I question whom I can trust.
28. My spiritual beliefs give me a feeling of security.
29. I’m succeeding in ways that really matter to me.
30. I feel that I matter to someone.
31. With each day‚ I feel that some of my freedom is slipping away.
32. My faith in a higher power gives me the strength to pursue my dreams.

33. I worry that someone may betray me.
34. My family or friends have a calming effect on me.
35. There are people in my life that are inspiring me to do my best work.
36. I have felt “at one” with a spiritual force or presence.
37. I might get rattled if my life gets any tougher.
38. Spiritual guidance is contributing to my success in life.
39. I’m running out of options for improving my life.
40. My spiritual beliefs are a source of emotional comfort.