Hope and its relation to grit and subjective well-being among first-year South African university students

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between hope (agency and pathways thinking), grit, and subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive and negative emotions) among South African first-year university students (n = 210; mean age = 20.35 years, SD = 1.49 years; female = 55.71%). Data were collected using the Adult Hope Scale (AHS), Grit Scale (GS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE). Regression analyses indicated hope predicted higher grit, satisfaction with life, and positive emotions. Female students reported significantly higher agency and negativity scores, whereas males reported scores on the pathways dimension. Hope is essential in student development and support programmes and may buffer students experiencing academic-related challenges.