Perceptions Of Hope Research Articles

A Case Study on Hotels as Noncongregate Emergency Living Accommodations for Returning Citizens

Background:The Transitional Hotel Project (THP) is a noncongregate emergency hotel initiative with comprehensive wraparound services implemented at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed to address the emergency housing needs of adults transitioning from incarceration (returning citizens) to community reintegration.Objective:The study aims to explore the external and internal recovery needs of returning citizens participating in the THP, with a focus on their housing stability, mental and behavioral health, employment, and the development of prosocial relationships.Methods:This mixed-methods case study used de-identified case management data, focus groups, and interviews with 24 participants, including employees, key partners, and returning citizens. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes related to the recovery process of returning citizens.Findings:A thematic analysis revealed three primary themes: (a) safety, including both physical and psychological aspects; (b) mutual empathy; and (c) person-centered decision-making. Two subthemes emerged under the safety theme: (a) physical safety and (b) psychological safety. Mutual empathy between participants and peer mentor staff played a critical role in fostering the recovery of returning citizens.Conclusions:The findings suggest that the physical and psychological safety provided within the hotel setting, along with the empathy and support from peer mentor staff, were significant factors contributing to positive changes in returning citizens. These elements of the THP appear to have facilitated improvements in both external recovery needs (e.g., housing stability and employment) and internal recovery processes (e.g., restructured self-identity, human agency, and perceptions of hope).

Hope and its relationship with treatment/ physical related factors in lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy

BackgroundpurposeImmunotherapy is a new treatment option for patients with Lung Cancer (LC). However, relatively limited research has explored about patients’ perception of hope and its associated factors during the process. This study aimed to examine level of perceived hope and the factors related to hope, with a particular focus on treatment and physically related factors, in LC patients receiving immunotherapy. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted and patients who had already received at least one immunotherapy cycle were recruited from two hospitals in northern Taiwan. The questionnaire included a background information form, the Herth's Hope Index, and the Symptom Severity Scale. Stepwise regression was applied to identify the most robust factors related to level of hope in the participants. ResultsA total of 130 patients were recruited. Overall, patients reported moderate to high levels of hope and mild symptoms. Fatigue, weakness, appearance changes, pruritus, and shortness of breath were identified as the most severe symptoms. Further regression analysis showed that patients with poor performance status, less immunotherapy cycles, higher level of fatigue, and more severe pruritus reported to have lower level of hope which explained 47% of the variances. ConclusionsThis study revealed that lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy had moderate level of hope. Patients’ performance status, selected symptoms and times of receiving immunotherapy were the robust factors related to hope. Systematic assessment of patients' symptoms and the development of appropriate interventions to reduce distress and enhance hope are strongly recommended for both clinical care and research.

Sources and perceptions of hope: A qualitative study involving younger people with dementia.

Hope is an important but overlooked phenomenon in dementia studies. Few studies have examined how people with dementia experience or perceive hope, possibly because it is seen as a diagnosis without hope. In this article, we report on a doctoral study, the aim of which was to examine the phenomenon of hope from the perspective of younger people with dementia to generate new understanding and enable community-based healthcare professionals to support well-being. The study was conducted in the Midlands, England, and used a modified diary-interview method. Six participants were given a camera and asked to take pictures of whatever made them feel hopeful. During a post-diary semi-structured interview, a conversation about hope took place. Interviews were transcribed and interpreted using the 'Voice-Centred Relational Method'. Findings show that hope is important to younger people with dementia. Sources of hope were the surrounding environment, keeping connected, taking action, and drawing on internal resources. An over-arching theme was 'defying dementia' and participants demonstrated resistance to negative stereotypes. Living with dementia did not curtail hope, although it could be weakened when participants felt 'cast adrift' by services. The In vivo codes generated were fear of dementia, threats to identity, disconnection from others, and frustrations and restrictions. It is concluded that hope should be a more central part of practice-based conversations with people with dementia.

OLDER ADULTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF HOPE REGARDING THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE DIET AND EXERCISE CHANGES

Abstract Successful aging is facilitated by healthy diet and exercise levels; however, older adults may face barriers to obtaining these. One key motivator for improving older adults’ diet and exercise may be perceptions of hope. Persuasive Hope Theory (PHT) posits that hope motivates behavior by focusing peoples’ thoughts on opportunities for actions that lead to future rewards. Research suggests hope is particularly motivational for older adults, yet little work has examined factors that lead older adults to feel hope. In line with PHT, this project examined whether older adults’ perceptions that increasing fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) and exercise are important, possible, congruent with their goals (i.e. goal congruence), and will lead to a better future (i.e., future expectation), influence feelings of hope. A convenience sample of participants (N=58) aged 57-87 (M=71.98, SD =8.74) living in urban Alaska completed a questionnaire as part of a larger study. A multiple regression analysis revealed that importance (M=4.40, SD=0.67) and future expectation (M=4.47, SD=0.66) for increasing FVI significantly predicted feeling hopeful about increasing FVI (M=4.40, SD=0.75), but perceptions that increasing FVI is possible (M=4.26, SD=0.74) and goal congruent (M=4.34, SD=0.64) did not (F(4, 53)=11.29, p<.05, R2=.46). The PHT variables for increasing exercise did not significantly predict feeling hopeful about increasing exercise. These results suggest PHT, specifically importance and future expectation, may be used to strategically design messages to increase older adults’ hopeful feelings for increasing FVI; however, more research is needed due to the limitations of the small convenience sample.

The Connection between Gardening and Outdoor Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceptions of Hope, Hopelessness, and Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

During the past few years, Americans have experienced a wide variety of stressors, including political tensions, racial/civil unrest, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. All of these have led to uncertainty within society. Chronic feelings of helplessness can lead to depression or feelings of hopelessness in those who perceive their situation as unchanging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of gardening and outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of hope, hopelessness, and levels of depression, stress, and anxiety. Participants of this study were recruited through online social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram; 458 participants completed the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale inventory as well as the Hope Scale. Our data indicated that individuals who self-reported themselves as gardeners had significantly more positive scores related to levels of stress, anxiety, and depression and a sense of hope. Furthermore, gardeners had lower levels of self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress when compared with those who did not identify themselves as gardeners. The gardeners also had a more positive outlook regarding hope for the future. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between the number of hours spent participating in gardening and a sense of hope, and a negative correlation was found between the number of hours gardening and stress levels. Similarly, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of hours spent participating in any outdoor activity and self-reported levels of stress, anxiety, or depression; however, there was a positive correlation between the number of hours spent participating in any outdoor activity and a sense of hope. Our data suggested that more hours spent outside gardening or participating in recreational activities led to less perceived stress, anxiety, and depression and greater levels of hope for the future.

Perceptions of Hope Among Bereaved Caregivers of Cancer Patients Who Received Early Palliative Care: A Content and Lexicographic Analysis.

BackgroundOncologists’ fear of taking away hope from patients when proposing early palliative care (EPC) is a barrier to the implementation of this model. This study explores hope perceptions among bereaved caregivers of onco-hematologic patients who received EPC.Materials and MethodsOpen-ended questionnaires were administered to 36 primary caregivers of patients who received EPC (26 solid and 10 hematologic cancer patients; mean age: 51.4 years, range age: 20-74), at 2 cancer centers, 2 months to 3 years after a patient death. Definitions of hope in the caregivers’ narratives were analyzed through a directed approach to content analysis. Results were complemented with automated lexicographic analysis.ResultsCaregivers perceived hope mainly as resilience and as expectations based on what they were told about the patients’ clinical conditions. Their hope was bolstered by trusting relationships with the healthcare teams. EPC interventions were recalled as the major support for hope, both during the illness and after the death of the patient. The automated quantitative lexical analysis provided deeper insights into the links between hope, truth, and trust.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that telling the truth about an incurable onco-hematologic disease and beginning EPC might be the combination of factors triggering hope in the setting of incurable cancer.

"Keeping the Light On": A Qualitative Study on Hope Perceptions at the End of Life in Portuguese Family Dyads.

Hope performs an important role in how patients and their families cope with suffering and stressful events. To better inform practice and theory on hope, palliative care research should include both patients and their family carers, given their strong interdependence. The aim of this study was to explore how hope is experienced in dyads formed by end-of-life patients and their family carers. In this qualitative study, data were collected by in-depth interviews with seven Portuguese family dyads. Analysis followed a thematic analysis approach. The analysis of the interviews shed light on the importance of hope for all participants, and the challenges involved. Family dyads noted several barriers and facilitators to perceptions of hope. Barriers to hope included limitations imposed by illness, feelings of anguish and helplessness, and poor communication with clinicians. Hope facilitators included supportive others, positive thinking and sense of humour, connection with nature, faith in religion and science, and a sense of compassion with others and altruism. Given the multidimensional scope of hope, the main challenge for family dyads is to look beyond the disease itself. Thus, palliative care teams should be encouraged to support and foster realistic hope, helping families prepare for death, in the context of advanced cancer.

ÖĞRETMENLERİN PSİKOLOJİK SERMAYE VE ÖRGÜTSEL STRES KAYNAKLARININ BAZI DEĞİŞKENLERE GÖRE İNCELENMESİ

Çalışmanın amacı, öğretmenlerin psikolojik sermaye ve örgütsel stres kaynak düzeylerini saptamak ve bazı değişkenlere göre incelemektir. Araştırma betimsel tarama modelindedir. Araştırmanın örneklem grubunu 364 öğretmen oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada “Psikolojik Sermeye Ölçeği” ve “Örgütsel Stres Kaynakları Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde, frekans ve yüzde dağılımı, aritmetik ortalama ve standart sapma, t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) testinden yararlanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular sonucunda öğretmenlerin en fazla umut, öz-yeterlik, işe özgü stres ve kariyer gelişiminden kaynaklı stres; en az psikolojik dayanıklılık, iyimserlik, örgütsel yapı ve iklimden kaynaklı stres yaşadıkları bulunmuştur. Öğretmenlerin örgütsel stres kaynak düzeyleri incelendiğinde, kadın öğretmenler erkek öğretmenlere göre işteki ilişkilerden kaynaklanan stres ve örgütsel rolden kaynaklanan stres; kıdem yılı 20 yıl ve üzeri olan öğretmenlerin kariyer yaşamından kaynaklı stres, işe özgü stres kaynak düzeyleri kıdem yılı 0-5 yıl olan öğretmenlere göre daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Branş öğretmenlerinin işe özgü stres ve örgütsel stres algılarının sınıf öğretmenlerine göre daha yüksek olduğu bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Erkek öğretmenlerin öz-yeterlik düzeyleri kadın öğretmenlere göre daha olumludur. 20 yıl ve üzeri kıdemdeki öğretmenlerin psikolojik sermaye ve öz-yeterliğe ilişkin algıları 0-5 yıl mesleki kıdemdeki öğretmenlere göre; 0-5 yıl kıdemdeki öğretmenlerin umut ve iyimserlik algıları 20 yıl ve üzeri kıdemdeki öğretmenlere göre daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Okul türü değişkenine göre imam hatip ortaokulunda görev yapan öğretmenlerin öz-yeterlik ve psikolojik dayanıklık algıları, ilkokul öğretmenlerine göre daha olumludur. Demokratik ortamda çalışan öğretmenlerin psikolojik sermaye, iyimserlik, umut ve öz-yeterlik algıları, ilgisiz ortamda çalışan öğretmenlere göre daha yüksektir. Öğretmenlerin yaşadığı stres kaynaklarının azaltılıp, psikolojik sermaye düzeylerinin iyileştirilmesine yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.

Hope in a depression therapeutic group: a qualitative case study.

to understand the perceptions of hope for people with depression in the context of a therapy group. using a qualitative case study approach, a semi-structured in-depth interview and a self-report questionnaire were conducted with seven women with depression integrated in a therapy group at a Portuguese day-care psychiatric unit. Data collection and analysis used triangulation of sources. the participants evidenced hope founded on the positive experiences of the past with a strong affiliation component. Hope management is done fundamentally through the interpersonal relationships established between the members of the group, based on communicational patterns that are established on a regular basis, mediated by the group therapist. the therapy group functioned towards the reinforcement of hope in people who experience depression, and it works as a motivation to manage the implications of illness in the participants' life and health project.

Hope and therapeutic privilege: time for shared prognosis communication

Communicating an unfavourable prognosis while maintaining patient hope represents a critical challenge for healthcare professionals (HPs). Duty requires respect for the right to patient autonomy while at the same time...

Critical-Care Nurses' Perceptions of Hope: Original Qualitative Research.

Nurses can be a source of inspiring hope in patients and families. There is limited investigation of hope-inspiring actions of critical-care nurses, particularly in the United States. The aim of this study was to explore critical-care nurses' perceptions of hope-inspiring strategies in adult patients and families. Qualitative description was used to explore perceptions. A convenience sample of critical-care nurses participated (n = 14) in one-on-one interviews. Themes were identified from transcripts of audiotapes. Participants described hope as something to "hang on to" and "move" you forward or toward something. Assessment of hope was identified as a "verbal and nonverbal connection," often done subconsciously. Hope was inspired through "communication." Patient and/or family behaviors signified that hope-inspiring strategies may be working. Nurses have the power to assess, inspire, and evaluate hope. Nurses use similar hope-inspiring strategies regardless of their specialty area of critical-care practice. Findings from this qualitative study added to knowledge on hope-inspiring strategies of critical-care nurses.

An Examination of Hope, Symptom Severity, and Functioning Among Combat Veterans After Participation in an Intensive Outpatient Program for PTSD

Impairment in psychosocial functioning complicates readjustment to civilian life for many combat veterans with PTSD and is related to poorer quality of life. Hope theory posits that both a sense of agency and the ability to identify pathways toward achieving a goal underlie the process of behavior change. We developed an intensive outpatient program (the HOME program) in order to help combat veterans move toward values-driven activities and improve psychosocial functioning. We hypothesized that increased hope regarding veterans’ ability to manage and recover from PTSD symptoms may facilitate improvements in functioning apart from symptom reduction. The present study examines changes in hope, psychosocial functioning, and PTSD symptoms in a sample of HOME participants (N = 33). Consistent with our hypothesis, results indicated that greater levels of hope were associated with improvements in adaptive behaviors (related to functioning) above and beyond symptom change. These preliminary findings suggest that therapeutic interventions that increase veterans’ perceptions of hope regarding recovery from PTSD may enhance psychosocial functioning. Additional research with larger samples is needed to further examine these relationships.

Exploring nurses' and patients' perceptions of hope and hope-engendering nurse interventions in an eating disorder facility: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and behaviours at elevated rates compared to the general population. Current knowledge of recovery from EDs does not address nurse engendered hope. This study aimed to explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions and the relationship actions have with patients' perception of hope. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This is the first study to explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions in an inpatient ED facility and find significant differences; nurses' scores were higher than patients' scores. The study explored the relationship perceived self-reported nurse hope-engendering actions have with patients' and nurses' perception of hope. There were no significant relationships. This study provides additional evidence to support that there are common patient needs for nurse hope-engendering practices such as caring and providing for patients; supporting and encouraging patients' connection to others; facilitating patients' adaptive belief systems; and helping to set goals and attain resources for patients. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE?: Nurses who work with patients who have EDs should be prepared to work with patients who are feeling hopeless about their future. Thus, nursing continuing education should focus on strategies that enable nurses to deliver care that reduces hopelessness, improves connection, and inspires hope in those who are recovering from EDs. The results revealed that nurses perceived that they offered patients with EDs hope-engendering actions more often and effectively than patients believed; this finding pinpoints a future direction for research that may improve care for patients. Patient feedback identified ways nurses may improve care to engender hope: providing an open caring environment, nurse presence, comfort/pain relief, and involving patients in their care. Actions by nurses aimed to enhance interpersonal connection and nurse presence could facilitate hope in patients with ED. ABSTRACT: Introduction Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours at elevated rates compared to the general population. Hope-engendering nursing actions may increase patients' levels of hope for the future, improve coping self-efficacy, and possibly reduce suicidality. Although nursing staff are integral ED treatment team members, little is known about nursing actions targeting hopefulness. Aim Explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions and the relationship actions have with patients' perception of hope. Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative, correlational research design was used. Responses for 97 ED patients and 10 nurses were entered into analysis. Hope-engendering nurse intervention and hope questionnaires were administered and analysed. Results Nurses' total hope-engendering nurse intervention and hope scores were higher than patients' scores. Discussion Patients reported that the most effective nursing actions were providing an open caring environment, comfort/pain relief, and involving patients in their care and treatment. Nurses perceived that they offered patients hope-engendering actions more often and effectively than the patients believed. Implications for Practice Findings indicate that patients with EDs have low levels of hope. Nursing educators should further develop strategies that enable nurses to deliver care that inspires hope and improves connectedness in those who have EDs.

Pairing Hope and Job Satisfaction with MENA Business Leaders

Hope has the potential to reengineer organizational structure and generate a new vibrant culture committed to positive behavior. Whether brick and mortar business or virtual, business leaders tend to work industriously to attain company goals and may play a dynamic role in shaping perceptions of hope through positive organizational behavior. This study is an exploratory one focusing on the role of hope and job satisfaction when paired with leadership in the business workplace. Contemporary business-related research has found that hope, an observable and measurable phenomenon in the workplace, plays a vital role in the business context. This case focuses on perceptions of hope, job satisfaction, and leadership inside business units in the Middle East and North African Region (MENA). The aim of this research paper is twofold: (1) to determine whether business leaders are perceived as hopeful and (2) to correlate perception of hope to perception of job satisfaction. Data was gathered using a survey; analysis was conducted; recommendations were made based on the results. It was concluded that in the MENA business context, leadership, hope, and job satisfaction play a relevant role.

Nadzieja na wieczność według Chantal Delsol

Monique Atlan and Roger-Pol Droit both propose a reassessment of the dominant rationalistic pessimism of people through the perspective of hope. From this point of view, one should definitely learn thinking also in terms of hope. According toChantal Delsol, European pessimism can be overcome with Christian faith. The hope of eternal life derives from the Jewish and Christian principles of faith. The respect for eternityoriginated the great achievements of civilization. The philosopher attempts to transpose this spiritual program and values onto a social plan.Similar perception of hope in the perspective of faith coincides, despite the distinctarticulation, in the Peguy’s poem. For Peguy the figure of a little girl personifies the frailand weak hope. According to Delsol, the European hope can be rebuilt through the anthropologicalvision of a fragile man. Her concept of hope is based on the acceptance ofhuman imperfection.

Health professionals' dealing with hope in palliative patients with cancer, an explorative qualitative research.

Hope is important for individuals with cancer in palliative care. Health professionals' perspective on hope affects the communication with palliative patients. The aim of this study was to explore how Dutch health professionals deal with palliative patients with cancer who hope for prolongation of life. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted. An interpretive description approach was used to understand the interpretation of and reaction to hopefulness in palliative patients with cancer by health professionals. Three FGDs were held, each consisting of five to ten health professionals working with palliative patients recruited in a general Dutch hospital and homecare organisation. The ways in which the participating health professionals interpret hope in palliative individuals with cancer and their behaviour towards these hopeful palliative patients are shaped by their reliance on their own normative ideas. Patients' hopefulness generally violates these norms and is, therefore, considered a problem that requires intervention. Hope that does not correspond with the medical facts is experienced as problematic by Dutch health professionals who therefore believe they should intervene and do something about it. Health professionals are challenged to face and address patients' and families' perceptions of hope, especially when those perceptions might differ from their own as professionals.

Physicians’ Perceptions of Hope and How Hope Informs Interactions With Patients: A Qualitative, Exploratory Study

Today some studies of physicians' perceptions of hope are available, but not studies of how hope informs patient care. The objectives of this qualitative study were to describe the ways physicians conceptualize hope and how these may inform interactions with their patients. Ten physicians working in a large tertiary care teaching hospital were interviewed. They represented palliative care, oncology, and 7 other specialties. Minimal amount of background information was collected. In-depth interviews were conducted during spring of 2016. Open coding and the constant comparison method were used to identify emerging themes from the transcribed data. Validation method included member checking. Hope was defined as an abstract, evolving concept characterized by future-oriented wishes; offering possibilities for reframing and shaping new meaning; an attitude of positivity or optimism; an attribute of the human condition with emotional and relational roots; and as a response to the existential inevitability of suffering and death. Three themes describing hope emerged: "assessing hope," "fostering and sustaining hope," and "attributes and outcomes of hope." The findings show how physicians conceptualize hope and how these conceptions differ in the empirical light of the study. Physicians' perceptions of "hope" may evolve when entering into a therapeutic relationship exploring the needs and desires of patients. Physicians' perspectives about "hope" may at times not be solely their own but are those of their patients and thus resulting in an amalgamation, or a rebuilding/rekindling of hope amidst hopelessness, that suits a particular relationship.

개인회생제도 이용자의 스트레스 요인이 우울에 미치는 영향 : 희망의 조절효과를 중심으로

본 연구는 대전, 세종, 충 남북 지역에 거주하는 개인회생제도 이용자 236명을 조사대상자로 하여 그들의 스트레스 요인이 우울에 미치는 영향을 조사하였으며, 이 관계에서 희망의 조절효과를 검증하였다. 본 연구에서는 자료분석을 위하여 PASW Statistics 18.0을 이용하였다. 주요 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 조사대상자의 우울 수준은 보통수준보다 높은 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 우울은 연령, 거주 지역, 학력, 사회활동의 참여 여부에 따라 집단별로 유의미한 차이가 나타났다. 셋째, 우울에 영향을 미치는 요인은 거주 지역, 사회활동의 참여 여부, 스트레스 요인에서의 건강 경제 가족문제, 희망 등으로 나타났다. 넷째, 희망은 건강 경제 가족 등의 스트레스의 요인과 우울과의 관계에서 조절효과를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 실증적 연구결과에 기초하여 개인회생제도 이용자들의 우울을 방지하기 위한 실질적이고 통합적인 방안을 제시하였다. 또한, 개인회생제도 이용자에 대한 실천영역에서의 최초의 분석결과를 제시함으로써 제도의 본래 목적을 달성하는데 기초자료를 제공했다는 점에서 본 연구의 의의를 찾을 수 있다. This study used 236 users of individual rehabilitation system in the regions of Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam and Chungbuk to review the effects that stressors have on the depression. During this process, the moderating effect of the factor, 'perception of hope', was verified. The data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18.0. Major findings are as follows; First, the depression found in study subjects was higher than average. Second, there was a significant difference in the depression across groups in accordance with age, residential area, education level, social participation. Third, factors affecting the depression were identified to be residential area, social participation, health, economy and family of stressors, hope. Fourth, hope appeared to have a moderating effect in the relation between health, economy, family of stressors and depression. Based on these findings, the study presents practical and integrated measures to deter depression users of individual rehabilitation system.

An Investigation of Hope and Context.

One of the tenets of community psychology is examining psychological phenomena in context, and our studies explored the relationship between hope and context among individuals in recovery for substance use disorders. Study 1 involved 595 participants who resided in 90 recovery homes. We found that context, as house effects, was salient in residents' perceptions of hope, suggesting that the context of recovery homes-- their configurations and dynamics-- may play a role in an individual's future perspective. Study 2 involved 102 recovering adults. Findings indicated that one's perceived context (i.e., opportunities, choices, & obstacles) was related to not only one's self-reported levels of hope, but one's perception of hope for others. Approximately 50% of an individual's hopefulness was explained by contextual factors, thus suggesting that system level effects are critical to an individual's hopefulness. The finding that context was predictive of hopefulness suggests that a community psychology perspective on feelings of hope is critical, especially for individuals in substance use recovery. Implications regarding the importance of hope and context for ecological research and contextual influences on behavior change are discussed.

The Content of Hope in Ambulatory Patients with Colon Cancer

Although hope is a pervasive concept in cancer treatment, we know little about how ambulatory patients with cancer define or experience hope. We explored hope through semistructured interviews with ten patients with advanced (some curable, some incurable) colon cancer at one Midwestern, university-based cancer center. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify key concepts related to patient perceptions of hope. Although we did ask specifically about hope, patients also often revealed their hopes in response to indirect questions or by telling stories about their cancer experience. We identified four major themes related to hope: 1) hope is essential, 2) a change in perspective, 3) the content of hope, and 4) communicating about hope. The third theme, the content of hope, included three subthemes: a) the desire for normalcy, b) future plans, and c) hope for a cure. We conclude that hope is an essential concept for patients undergoing treatment for cancer as it pertains to their psychological well-being and quality of life, and hope for a cure is not and should not be the only consideration. In a clinical context, the exploration of patients' hopes and aspirations in light of their cancer diagnosis is important because it provides a frame for understanding their goals for treatment. Exploration of the content of patients' hope can not only help to illuminate misunderstandings but also clarify how potential treatments may or may not contribute to achieving patients' goals.