Hopelessness and temperament of youth in residential treatment

Abstract

The importance of hopelessness and temperament within the study of youth psychiatric disorders is becoming increasingly apparent. Analysis of these two constructs further elucidates the factors that are correlated with psychopathology in children and adolescents. The present study examines the relationship between hopelessness and temperament. Two scales, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck, 1974) and the Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey Child (Windle & Lerner, 1986), were administered to 32 participants and the scores were correlated to determine whether a relationship exists between the two constructs. Data analysis using Pearson’s r correlation coefficients suggests a positive correlation exists between hopelessness and temperament, as well as a positive correlation between elevated levels of hopelessness and a difficult temperament. When utilizing the t-test for independent means to determine differences in BHS and DOTS-R Child scores in relation to internalized disorders and externalized disorders, no statistical differences were indicated. Implications of these findings are discussed as well as recommendations for future studies on hopelessness and temperament.