Role of hope and coping behavior in interpersonal stress

Abstract

The 8-item Interpersonal Hope Scale was developed based on Snyder's theoretical framework of hope, and the effects of hope and coping behavior on psychological distress in interpersonal stress situations was investigated. Study 1 demonstrated the acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis identified the agency and pathways components of the scale. Construct validation of the scale was obtained with regard to personality and mental health variables: trait hope, optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, hopelessness, subjective health, and happiness. In study 2, the Interpersonal Hope Scale, Interpersonal Stress-Coping Inventory (Kato, 2000), and measures of depression and anxiety were completed by 271 undergraduate students. The result of covariance structure analysis suggested that: (a) interpersonal hope influenced coping behavior and psychological distress; moreover, the tendency to be hopeful moderated psychological distress, and (b) coping behavior influenced psychological distress over and above the effects of interpersonal hope.