Adolescent Hope: An Exploratory Investigation of Individual and Family Correlates by Racial/Ethnic Groups

Abstract

In thirty years of valuable research on adolescent hope, factors like race/ethnicity, social class, and family context have not been adequately considered or integrated. The present study used an exploratory, intersectional approach to explore hope levels and correlates across individual (i.e., age, sex) and family (i.e., income, structure, mother/father hope, mother/father relationship quality) characteristics in four racial/ethnic groups through a cross-sectional design (national U.S. convenience sample recruited through online survey platform, n = 444; 46% female; fairly even distribution across 12- to 17-years old; 39% Black, 38% White, 14% Latinx, 9% Asian). Hope was high overall (M > 4 on 6-point scale). Age differences emerged across racial/ethnic groups, with White and Latinx youth showing lower hope in late compared to early adolescence whereas Black youth showed less variability. Asian youth showed lowest hope levels at age fourteen. Black and Latinx girls had significantly lower hope levels compared to boys. Sex differences were not found for White adolescents. Parent-reported household income and adolescent-reported perception of family financial stability related differently to adolescent hope levels in different racial/ethnic groups. Family structure (e.g., parents together, divorced) showed no significant relations with adolescent hope level in any group. Mother and father hope level and relationship quality with adolescent were generally positively related to higher adolescent hope, though nuanced differences emerged within racial/ethnic groups. Findings may prompt scholars conducting hope research and interventions to tailor their approach to specific adolescent populations in the U.S., with explicit consideration of context across race/ethnicity.