Hopelessness Scale For Children Research Articles

Depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in a sample of Egyptian children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundEven though current therapeutic approaches have significantly increased the longevity and standard of living for children suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF), the crucial psychological components of this illness have not received the same level of attention as other chronic illnesses. The aim of the research was to assess depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in cystic fibrosis-affected children and their relation to the duration of illness. In this study, we compared 40 healthy control children between the ages of 7 and 12 with 40 cystic fibrosis children who were matched for age and sex. All patients had detailed clinical and psychometric evaluations using the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), the Anxiety Scale for Children (ASC), and the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC).ResultsThe CDI, ASC, and HSC revealed a significant difference between both groups. Positive correlations between depression, anxiety, and hopelessness and disease duration were found.ConclusionsPatients with CF experienced significantly increased depression, anxiety, and hopelessness, and there is an association between these symptoms and the duration of the illness. We advise making psychiatric screening a standard part of evaluating and monitoring CF patients.

Differences in suicidality and psychological symptoms between sexual and gender minority youth compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth in a psychiatric hospital

IntroductionWe aimed to examine differences in depression, hopelessness, anxiety, traumatic stress, emotion regulation, suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and drug use between sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) and heterosexual, cisgender youth (HCY) admitted to an acute, psychiatric inpatient unit in Texas. We also sought to predict participants’ suicide risk level at hospitalization using psychological and demographic variables. MethodsAdolescent inpatients completed: a demographic questionnaire; the Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale for Children; the Hopelessness Scale for Children; the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders; the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–16; the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory; and the Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale–5. The Columbia - Suicide Severity Rating Scale–Screener Version, and history of suicide attempts and drug use were extracted from medical records. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests to determine differences in symptoms between SGMY and HCY. A logistic regression was utilized to predict the likelihood of ‘high’ versus ‘low’ suicide risk. ResultsThis study included 348 adolescents, mean age 15.31 years, who identified as primarily female (63.22%) and heterosexual, cisgender (61.30%), with many being Hispanic/Latino (40.23%). Nearly 38% of patients identified as SGMY; 3% identified as transgender. SGMY reported significantly more symptoms of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, reported significantly more suicide attempts, and were more likely to engage in NSSI than HCY. No differences were found for traumatic stress or drug use. SGMY had double the odds of high suicide risk (OR = 2.06, 95% CI,1.14–3.71), even after controlling for depression and suicide attempts. ConclusionsSGMY, compared to HCY inpatients, were particularly vulnerable to developing psychological symptoms, engaging in self-harm, and attempting suicide.

Beyond the Wall: Death Education at Middle School as Suicide Prevention.

This study investigates the psychological effects of participation in Death Education (DeEd) by middle school children in two towns in northeast Italy in which suicides occur to a greater extent than in the rest of the region. The aims of the project “Beyond the Wall” were inherent to the prevention of suicide, address existential issues and enhance the meaning of life through positive intentions for the future and reflection on mortality. It involved eight classes (150 students in four classes in the experimental group; 81 in four classes in the control group) engaging with films, workgroup activities, photovoice and psychodrama. The constructs of resilience, emotional competency and psychological well-being were monitored with the Resilience Scale for Adolescents, the Hopelessness Scale for Children, the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children and the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale. The DeEd intervention was found to be significantly related to some of the variables investigated, improving the students’ ability to recognise emotions and communicate them verbally while maintaining stable initial characteristics, such as psychological well-being and positive expectations for the future.

Association between Hopelessness and Conduct Problem among School Going Adolescents in a Rural and Urban Setting in Kenya

The period of adolescence is characterized by physical, psychological, emotional and personality change. During this period the adolescents are in schools and are expected to complete their schooling successfully. These can overwhelm the adolescents with some developing hopelessness and conduct problems. This study aimed to find out if Hopelessness was a predictor of conduct problems among the school going youth. It was conducted in eight public rural and urban schools among youth aged between 11 and 17 years. Eight schools, four primary schools and four secondary schools, took part in the study. Hopelessness was measured using the Hopelessness Scale for Children by Kazdin while. Conduct problems was measured using the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire youth version. Data of 2439 students was analyzed. The prevalence of high hopelessness was 20.7% while the prevalence of conduct problems was 15.7%. At Bivariate analysis, only age, with the OR of having conduct problems if one was 11-13 years age group being 1.520 at 95% Cl (1.217-1.897), P<0.001, and hopelessness with the or of having conduct problems if one had high levels of hopelessness being 2.031at 95% Cl, (1.590-2.595), P<0.001. However, at multivariate analysis, only high levels of hopelessness was associated with conduct problems, or of 1.912 at 95% Cl, (1.491-2.452), p<0.001. From the findings, it can be concluded that hopelessness is associated with conduct problems and parents and teachers need to recognize this for appropriate interventions.

Self-esteem and Hopelessness as Predictors of Emotional Difficulties: A Cross-sectional Study among Adolescents in Kosovo

The growing prevalence of emotional difficulties among adolescents represents an important public health issue for several countries, especially those with relatively young population such as Kosovo. The main research question of the present study is whether self-esteem and hopelessness are significant predictors of emotional difficulties among adolescents in Kosovo. The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of emotional difficulties among adolescents in Kosovo and determine whether self-esteem and hopelessness serve as significant predictors of these difficulties. Participants were 1162 adolescents aged between 11 and 20 years old (M=16.37; SD=1.58); in terms of gender composition, there were girls 593 (51%), boys 535 (46%) . The measures used included the Albanian versions of The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman,1997), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg,1965) and the Hopelessness scale for children (Kazdin et al., 1986). Results indicated that 16.3% of participants reported abnormal levels of emotional difficulties, 52.7% reported low self-esteem and 19.6% reported high hopelessness levels. Emotional difficulties were significantly predicted by hopelessness (β= .272, p<.00), self-esteem (β= .112, p<.00), gender (β= .258, p<.00), and residence (β= .128, p<.00). Together these variables explained 17% of the variance in emotional difficulties. The study found relatively high levels of emotional difficulties especially in mid-adolescence. Findings suggested that self-esteem and hopelessness might partially explain emotional difficulties. Despite the low statistical power of findings it is important to investigate these relationships in future research, especially when considering that more than half the sample reported low self-esteem and almost 1/5 reported high hopelessness.

Anger Expression Mode, Depressive Symptoms, Hopelessness, and Decision Coping among African American Adolescents

This study examined the relationship between anger expression mode, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and decision coping patterns among a non-clinical community sample of 276 low-income African American adolescents (mean age = 14.47). Participants were students in sixth through tenth grades enrolled in health and wellness classes in two public schools in West Tennessee. They were asked to complete a battery of instruments including the Anger Style Inventory, Children's Depression Inventory, Hopelessness Scale for Children, and Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire. Findings indicate a significant association between anger expression mode, depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, and decision coping pattern among study participants. Gender and screening positive for depressive symptoms predicted participant's anger response mode. Using multiple assessment scales may provide useful information toward preventing the onset of clinically significant emotional disorders among adolescents.

622 – Suicidal tendencies in a community sample of adolescents in the region of prizren

Introduction In many countries suicide is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents. Identifying young people at risk and offering effective treatment is a major concern of mental health policies. Objectives To look for the presence of suicidal thinking, plans and attempts in adolescents. Aims Measure the presence of suicidal tendencies having in mind possible correlation with psychological difficulties (measured by SDQ), level of depression, hopelessness and self-esteem of adolescents in one school sample. Methods The sample of adolescents at school have been offered to fill out CESD, Hopelessness scale for children, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, SDQ questionnaire and four item adopted questions about suicidal tendencies. All data has been analyzed by SPSS 14.0. Results In the sample of 768 adolescents (12-20yr, mean Age=17, 52) 22, 1% of them declared suicidal thinking, 3, 9% planed and 2, 2% attempted. About third of them didn’t find any reason for these tendencies. Females showed more suicidal tendencies but significantly only for thinking. Tobacco, alcohol and marihuana users have significantly more suicidality. Youths who declared more test anxiety have significantly more suicidal thinking. Significantly association is found between suicidal tendencies and psychological difficulties (emotional, conduct, hyperactivity and peers problems). Depression and high hopelessness also have significances. Suicidality is significantly higher in youths with normal self-esteem. Conclusions Suicidality is much presented in our sample and showed significantly association with substance use, psychological difficulties, hopelessness, depression and normal self-esteem.

Hopelessness Levels of Children Living with Their Parents or in an Orphanage

Turkish children in the second grade at primary school who were either living with parents or living in an orphanage were surveyed using the Hopelessness Scale for Children (Beck, 1974) to assess their feelings of hopelessness. Participants were 130 students (66 girls and 64 boys) living in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. When data were analyzed the findings showed that the hopelessness level of children living in an orphanage was significantly higher than that of children living with their parents.

P-280 - Hopelessness and self-esteem of adolescents refered to mental health clinic in Prizren

Introduction Hopelessness and self-esteem are evaluated to be linked with psychopathology. Objectives To look for sensitivity of scales who measure these components as premise for use in clinical work. Aims Measure the level of hopelessness and self-esteem of adolescents referred to clinic and the psychological difficulties;possible correlation with diagnosis, psychological difficulties and suicidality. Methods Referred adolescents to the clinic have been offered to fill out Hopelessness scale for children, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and SDQ questionnaire. All data has been analyzed by SPSS 14.0. Results In the sample of 57 adolescents we found 14 (24,6%) case with high level of hopelessness; 42 (73,7%) cases with low self-esteem and 17 (29,8%) cases with suicidal thinking/behavior. We didn't found any significant association with diagnose.With psychological difficulties based on SDQ (n = 53) resulted 16 (28,3%) cases.We found significant negative association ( x 2 = 8.857,df = 1, N = 57, Fisher's exact test p x 2 = 6.578, df = 2, N = 57, p Conclusions Low self-esteem is much presented, but not associated with hopelessness and suicidality. High level of hopelessness and suicidality also are present nearly in third of sample and linked between. High level of hopelessness accompanies other psychological difficulties found (emotional, conduct, hyperactivity) but not with diagnose.

Relationships between the Sociodemographic and Family Characteristics, Street Life Experiences and the Hopelessness of Street Children

Throughout its history, street children have been a major concern of Turkish society and have lately been uppermost on social workers' agenda. This study examines the relationships between sociodemographic and family characteristics, family relations, street life experiences and the hopelessness of street children. The study focuses on a population of street children living in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey, chosen for its high density of street children. Data were collected by distributing the Hopelessness Scale for Children and a questionnaire. Findings suggest that there is a relationship between children who come from dysfunctional families with serious problems and who suffer physical and emotional abuse while living either on the streets or with their families and their levels of hopelessness, with implications for social work practice.

The relationship between bullying, depression and suicidal thoughts/behaviour in Irish adolescents

This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation/behaviour, among bullied and non-bullied young people. Participants were 209 students, 97 male and 112 female, attending eight urban post-primary schools and aged between 12 and 15 years. Participants were interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children - Present and Lifetime Version, the Hopelessness Scale for Children, the Scale for Suicide Ideation, and the Suicide Intent Scale. Data were analysed using a series of non-parametric comparison tests. Being a victim of bullying was found to be significantly associated with depression (χ2 = 10.986; df = 1; p = 0.001) and suicidal ideation (χ2 = 5.811; df = 1; p = 0.022). Results also indicated that victims were more likely to have reported a suicide attempt (χ2 = 5.995; df = 1; p = 0.022). Finally, those bullied were significantly more likely to have been referred to psychiatric services (χ2 = 6.661; df = 1;p = 0.011). These findings suggest that the issue of bullying needs to be re-addressed within Irish schools, with particular emphasis placed on further investigation into the psychological consequences thereof.

The incidence of witnessing interparental violence and some of its psychological consequences among Arab adolescents

Objectives: The study had two aims. First, it sought to examine the incidence of interparental psychological aggression and physical violence witnessed by Arab adolescents. Second, it sought to assess the implications of such exposure on adolescents’ feelings of hopelessness, psychological adjustment problems, and self-esteem. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of 1640 Arab adolescents from Israel. Different forms of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) were utilized to measure the extent of interparental psychological aggression and physical violence witnessed by adolescents. The Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC), the Psychological Adjustment Scale (PAS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) were used to measure the above-mentioned psychological states. Results: The results indicate that Arab adolescents witness high rates of psychological aggression and physical violence between their parents. Furthermore, regression and multiple regression analyses revealed that significant amounts of the variance in adolescents’ hopelessness, psychological adjustment problems, and low self-esteem are explained by witnessing different patterns of interparental psychological aggression and physical violence, beyond the amounts of variance in these criterion variables that can be attributed to some sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents, their parents, and families. Conclusions: The results provided strong support for the hypothesis that witnessing interparental aggression and violence has a strong detrimental impact on adolescents’ psychological states. Furthermore, the results emphasize the need for further research into the effects of witnessing other patterns of psychological aggression and physical violence in adolescents’ nuclear and extended families. It would also be worthwhile to investigate the risk factors that predispose violence in the family and the consequences of those factors.

Evolving the biobehavioral family model: the fit of attachment.

The 1993 Biobehavioral Family model (BBFM) posits that family relational patterns and biobehavioral reactivity interact so as to influence the physical and psychological health of the children. The revised 1999 BBFM incorporates parent-child attachment as a pivotal construct. The current study tests the 1999 BBFM by predicting, in asthmatic children, that child perception of parental relationship quality, triangulation of child in marital conflict, and parent-child security of relatedness will be associated with hopelessness and vagal activation (one mechanism of airway compromise in asthma). In this study, 22 children with asthma (11 males/11 females, aged 8 to 16), watched, alone, an emotionally challenging movie, then engaged in family discussion tasks (problem solving, loss, conflict, cohesion) and completed the Children's Perception of Interparental Scale, the Relatedness Questionnaire, The Multidimensional Scale of Anxiety in Children, and the Hopelessness Scale for Children. Heart rate variability, measured at baseline and throughout the movie and family tasks, was used to compute respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)--an inferential measure of vagal activation. The child's perception of parental conflict showed trends of association with triangulation and insecure father-child relatedness. Triangulation and hopelessness also were associated with insecure father-child relatedness, all of which were associated with vagal activation. Insecure mother-child relatedness was correlated only with hopelessness. Anxiety was not related to any variables. These findings lend support to the 1999 BBFM, and suggest a key role for parent-child attachment.

The role of perfectionism and depressive cognitions in understanding the hopelessness experienced by adolescent suicide attempters.

This study examined the relation of two cognitive variables, depressive cognitions and perfectionism, to the hopelessness experienced by adolescent suicide attempters. Adolescent suicide attempters (N = 68) were administered three measures assessing cognitive characteristics commonly associated with adolescent suicidal behavior: the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS), the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire for Adolescents (DEQ-A), and the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC). Socially prescribed perfectionism on the CAPS and self-criticism on the DEQ-A were both highly correlated with HSC. Regression analyses indicated that perfectionism was significantly related to hopelessness, but this relationship was attenuated after the effects of depressive cognitions on hopelessness were controlled. Self-criticism was the cognitive variable most strongly associated with hopelessness suggesting that it is a more important focus for cognitive interventions in adolescent suicide attempters than perfectionism.

Personality characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters.

The purpose of this study was to explore both the personality characteristics and the symptoms of personality disorder of adolescent suicide attempters, as well as the relationship between personality variables and hopelessness in this population. Two sample populations were used in this study. First, 102 adolescent suicide attempters between 13 and 18 years of age completed the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI) and the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC). A second group of 35 adolescent suicide attempters were administered the HSC and the revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB). No distinctive personality characteristics or symptoms of personality disorders were found. However, affective distress seemed to be the most prominent feature in the presentation of these adolescents. Additionally, high scores on the HSC were associated with elevated scores on the Personality Style scales of the MAPI and higher (more dysfunctional) scores on Affect Regulation on the DIB. The results suggest that clinicians should focus most on the personality characteristic of sensitivity and on affect regulation when assessing adolescent suicide attempters. In addition, hopelessness is important to systematically assess because it appears to be related to a variety of dysfunctional personality characteristics that may affect follow-up outcome.

Factor Structure and Construct Validity of Scores on the Hopelessness Scale for Children with Students with Cognitive Disabilities

The psychometric characteristics of the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC) was examined for children and adolescents with mental retardation or a learning disability. Scores from 261 students with cognitive disabilities were analyzed to determine the factor structure and internal stability of scores on the scale with this population. Locus of control and achievement attribution scores were correlated with HSC scores to examine construct validity. The factor structure of the scale was almost identical to the original structure, and the scale scores were shown to have adequate construct validity. Internal stability was, however, slightly lower for students with cognitive disabilities.

Outcome of Multimodal Day Treatment for Children With Severe Behavior Problems: A Five-Year Follow-up

To evaluate the long-term outcome of a multimodal day treatment program for children with severe behavior problems and to identify factors that may predict a positive outcome. Thirty-three children who completed a day treatment program were assessed using a prospective, single-cohort design tested at intake, discharge, and 5-year follow-up. The child's functioning was assessed using the Revised Child Behavior Profile (RCBP), Hare Self-Esteem Scale, Depression Self-Rating Scale, Hopelessness Scale for Children, Index of Peer Relations, and a 5-point ordinal scale for scholastic reintegration. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed that improvement was maintained on all measures between intake and 5-year follow-up. A stepwise multiple regression showed that 92% of the adjusted variance in the behavioral functioning of the children at 5-year follow-up, as assessed by the RCBP, was explained by parental cooperation, initial RCBP total and externalizing scores, and history of problem pregnancy. Children who were admitted to a day treatment setting appear to function well globally, even 5 years after discharge. Parental cooperation was the most important variable in predicting positive outcome.

Suicidality, hopelessness, and attitudes toward life and death in clinical and nonclinical adolescents.

To see if hopelessness and four attitudes (attraction to life and death and repulsion by life and death) account for the development of suicidality in children, 15 adolescent psychiatric inpatients and 84 middle and high school students, average age 15.2 years, took a four-item version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire, the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC), and the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale for Adolescents (MAST-A). Profiles on the four attitudes differentiated adolescents at risk for suicide from those not at risk. Suicidality was negatively related to Attraction to Death and positively related to Repulsion by Life, Attraction to Death, Repulsion by Death, and hopelessness. Hopelessness was negatively related to Attraction to Life, and positively related to Repulsion by Life and Repulsion by Death. The best predictors of suicidality were hopelessness and Repulsion by Life. Results imply that reducing feelings of rejection by their families might lessen suicidality in adolescents.

The Hopelessness Scale for Children: Psychometric properties with hospitalized adolescents

The Hopelessness Scale for Children: Psychometric properties with hospitalized adolescents

The Hopelessness Scale for Children: psychometric properties with hospitalized adolescents.

This study examined the internal consistency and factor structure of the Hopelessness Scale for Children with 201 adolescent inpatients (M age = 15.4 years). In comparison to the psychometric properties of the scale found with younger children, our findings suggest adequate, but lower, internal consistency reliability and a weak core factor structure. The results are discussed in terms of possible changes in the child scale or the alternative use of an adult measure of hopelessness with adolescents.