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International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 50, No. 2, 142-152 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764004040961
© 2004 SAGE Publications

Ftors Associated with Hopelessness: A Population Study

Kaisa Haatainen

Development Unit 4977, Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.kaisa.haatainen{at}kuh

Antti Tanskanen

Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

Jari Kylmaä

Department of Nursing Science, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.

Kirsi Honkalampi

Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen

Jukka Hintikka

Heimo Viinamaki

Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

Background: Hopelessness is associated with depression and suicidality in clinical as well as in non-clinical populations. However, data on the prevalence of hopelessness and the associated factors in general population are exiguous.

Aims: To assess the prevalence and the associated factors of hopelessness in a general population sample.

Methods: The random population sample consisted of 1722 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Life Satisfaction Scale (LS).

Results: Eleven percent of the subjects reported at least moderate hopelessness. A poor financial situation (OR 3.64), poor subjective health (OR 2.87) and reduced working ability (OR 2.67) independently associated with hopelessness. Moreover, the likelihood of moderate or severe hopelessness was significantly increased in subjects dissatisfied with life (OR 5.99), with depression (OR 4.86), with alexithymia (OR 2.37) and with suicidal ideation (OR 1.85).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated a moderately high prevalence of hopelessness at the population level. Hopelessness appears to be an important indicator of low subjective well-being in the general population that health care personnel should pay attention to.

Key Words: hopelessness • population • risk


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H. Viinamaki, A. Tanskanen, K. Honkalampi, H. Koivumaa-Honkanen, R. Antikainen, K. Haatainen, and J. Hintikka
Recovery from Depression: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study of General Population Subjects
International Journal of Social Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 52(1): 19 - 28.
[Abstract] [PDF]