High Hopes: Contributors to Higher Levels of Hope Among at-Risk Young Adults

Introduction: hope is an important coping resource that buffers adversity and stress. The goal of this study was to examine the contribution of key elements including income, education, housing, and health to the psychological adjustment of at-risk young adults in Israel as manifested by their levels of hope. Also, to examine self-efficacy as a mediator between these key elements and hope.

Methods: The study sample comprised 589 at-risk young adults between the ages of 18–25, who received treatment at one of the social welfare service agencies in Israel. The instruments tapped the young adult's hope, income sufficiency, housing stability, education, self-rated health and self-efficacy.

Results: SEM analysis revealed that lack of homelessness, higher income sufficiency, higher self-rated health, and higher education were associated with higher levels of hope (Fit indices χ² (df=3) = 4.62 p = .202 CFI = .999 NNFI=.997 TLI=.999 RMSEA = .030 (CI 90% .000, .081). In addition, the mediation model analysis; χ² (df=4) = 25.302 p = .100 CFI = .970 NNFI=.970 TLI=.970 RMSEA = .095 (CI 90% .062, .132) revealed three indirect effects: (1) Higher levels of self-rated health were associated with higher levels of self-efficacy, which were associated with higher levels of hope; (2) Homelessness was associated with lower levels of self-efficacy, which were related with lower levels of hope; (3) Higher levels of income sufficiency were related with higher levels of self-efficacy, which were related with higher levels of hope.

Implications: The study's findings emphasize the role of personal and environmental aspects in shaping youths' future. Therefore, implications for practice highlight the importance of considering instrumental, as well as psychological and motivational, aspects in intervention programs that support at-risk young adults during the transition to adulthood.