The value of hope: Validation of the perceived hope scale in the Portuguese population

Abstract

Hope is a timeless phenomenon that has witnessed a re-emergence in recent times and has been conceptualized and measured in many different ways. The Perceived Hope Scale (PHS) intends to measure hope in an unbiased way, asking people directly about their experienced levels of hope. This paper presents the validation and psychometric evaluation of the PHS in the Portuguese context. It evaluates the reliability and the factorial structure via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as convergent validity and predictive/incremental utility using two samples of 452 adult individuals and 266 university students. Results suggest that the Portuguese version of the PHS exhibits robust psychometric properties: a one-dimensional structure with high internal consistency, as well as convincing convergent validity and predictive power. The PHS was found to relate highly to other psychological dimensions, such as harmony in life, vitality, and flourishing (positively), and negatively with depression and anxiety, adding to their prediction beyond dispositional hope and optimism. Overall, the scale presented here proved to be a useful instrument for assessing perceived hope in the Portuguese context. This study is part of a yearly cross-cultural and cross-sectional internet survey entitled Hope Barometer.