Perceptions of Hopelessness among Low-Income African-American Adolescents through the Lens of Photovoice

Few studies have contextually examined hopelessness among low-income African-American adolescents. Furthermore, little is known about how such youths assign meaning to, perceive, and experience feelings of hopelessness. This study adds to the social work literature by examining the constructs of hopelessness from a cultural and contextual viewpoint through the lens of photovoice. Sixteen (N = 16) African-American adolescents of ages 13 to 17 participated in this study. Youth participants constructed meaning about and defined hopelessness for themselves, thereby expanding the constructs of hopelessness previously existing in the research literature. This study provides important insights regarding specific factors that impinge upon hope among low-income African-American adolescents.