Ftors Associated with Hopelessness: A Population Study

Kaisa Haatainen, Antti Tanskanen, Jari Kylmaä, Kirsi Honkalampi, Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen, Jukka Hintikka and Heimo Viinamaki
Additional contact information
Kaisa Haatainen: Development Unit 4977, Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.kaisa.haatainen@kuh.
Antti Tanskanen: Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Jari Kylmaä: Department of Nursing Science, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
Heimo Viinamaki: Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2004, vol. 50, issue 2, 142-152

Abstract: Background: Hopelessness is associated with depression and suicidality in clinical as well as in non-clinical populations. However, data on the prevalence of hopelessness and the associated factors in general population are exiguous. Aims: To assess the prevalence and the associated factors of hopelessness in a general population sample. Methods: The random population sample consisted of 1722 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Life Satisfaction Scale (LS). Results: Eleven percent of the subjects reported at least moderate hopelessness. A poor financial situation (OR 3.64), poor subjective health (OR 2.87) and reduced working ability (OR 2.67) independently associated with hopelessness. Moreover, the likelihood of moderate or severe hopelessness was significantly increased in subjects dissatisfied with life (OR 5.99), with depression (OR 4.86), with alexithymia (OR 2.37) and with suicidal ideation (OR 1.85). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a moderately high prevalence of hopelessness at the population level. Hopelessness appears to be an important indicator of low subjective well-being in the general population that health care personnel should pay attention to.

Keywords: hopelessness; population; risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:50:y:2004:i:2:p:142-152

DOI: 10.1177/0020764004040961

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