Validation of the Integrative Hope Scale in a Chinese college student population

ABSTRACT

Recently, the Integrative Hope Scale (HIS) was developed and validated in several Western cultures. Because of its multidimensional structure and its relational components, we wondered if IHS could be a useful instrument for assessing hope in non-Western cultures. The current study translated and validated the IHS in a large sample of Chinese college students. Validity and reliability evidence for the IHS in Chinese culture was obtained by conducting Item Factor Analysis (IFA) across four different measurement models (e.g. a single factor model, a four-factor oblique model, a higher order factor model and a bi-factor model). Evidence of convergent and divergent validity was also gathered through correlation with measures of psychological well-being. Results indicate that the IHS is a valid measure of hope in Chinese college students. Discussions of specific aspects of the IHS and their applicability in the Chinese culture are provided. Implications for research and interpretation with the IHS are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Hope
• measurement
• item factor analysis
• psychological well-being
• cross culture

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shengnan Li

Shengnan Li, Ph.D., obtained her doctoral degree in counselling psychology from the University of Kansas. She is currently working at the University of Iowa Counseling Service as a staff therapist providing counseling services to the college student population.  Her research interests include understanding spirituality in relation to psychological well-being, college students and their identity development, scale development and validation, and indigenous studies that promote culturally appropriate understanding of psychological concepts.

Paul B. Ingram

Paul B. Ingram, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Texas Tech University. He is interested in personality measurement using the MMPI-2/MMPI-2-RF, particularly factors influencing measurement of military and veteran relevant issues (e.g., both substantive clinical presentation [such as PTSD and TBI] as well as issues related to validity scale functioning). He also studies mental health treatment seeking and the role of attitudinal process on service engagement and continued utilization. His work on treatment engagement is aimed at predicting factors influencing attitudes about mental health as well as predicting actual treatment behaviors (e.g., early termination, symptom reduction patterns while in therapy, therapy engagement).

Changming Duan

Changming Duan, Ph.D., is a professor of counselling psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Kansas in the United States. She grew up and received her undergraduate education in China, and earned her doctoral degree in social and counselling psychology from University of Maryland. Her professional interest includes researching counselling processes and outcome in various cultural contexts, multicultural education, and counselling the culturally diverse. She is also involved in counselling related training and research in China.