Hope as empowerment model: A client-based perspective on the process of hope development

Clients' experiences with a Trauma-sensitive mindfulness and compassion group intervention: a first-person perspective on change and change mechanisms

Background: Trauma-related symptoms are common and there is a need for treatment interventions targeting underlying core vulnerabilities regardless of the client's diagnosis. Mindfulness and Compassion interventions have shown promising results in trauma treatment. However, little is known of how clients experience such interventions. Objective: This study describes clients' experiences of change after participating in a transdiagnostic group intervention, Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness and Compassion Group (TMC). Method: All 17 participants from two TMC groups were interviewed within one month of completing treatment. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with a focus on how the participants experienced change and change mechanisms. Results: Three main themes of experienced change were developed: Becoming empowered; A new relationship to oneself and one's body; and Gaining more freedom in relationships and life. Four main themes were developed to capture clients' experiences of change mechanisms: New perspectives give understanding and hope; Accessing tools facilitates agency; Significant moments of awareness open up to new possibilities, and Circumstances in life that facilitate change. Conclusion: We discuss and reflect upon participants' experiences of the effects of participating in a TMC group and the mental and emotional costs of doing the work and present a broader perspective on change processes overall.

Does Hope Reverberate Between Generations?

Intergenerational transmission refers to the transmission of stories, traits, abilities, ideas, behaviors, and various outcomes from parents to their children. To date, there has been little research on the intergenerational transmission of positive behavior, traits, and actions. To determine whether hope may be transmitted from one generation to the next, a qualitative study was performed, using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis. Over 4 months, four mothers of children with mental illness were engaged in repeated conversations about stories of hope related to their past and how they envisioned hope in their children. Findings indicated that hope could be transmitted to the next generation, either explicitly (verbally) or implicitly (i.e., expressed through actions involving one's children). We conclude that also positive patterns may be transmitted both explicitly and implicitly from one generation to the next. Transmitting hope between generations played a significant role in the mothers' experiences of hope.

Hope and health-related quality of life among chronically ill uninsured/underinsured adults

AIMS

Uninsured/underinsured individuals with chronic health conditions report low health-related quality of life. Empowerment-based strategies (e.g., hope) may improve the health-related quality of life of uninsured/underinsured individuals with chronic health conditions by enabling them to take charge of their health.

METHODS

The present study used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among number of chronic health conditions, the components of hope (i.e., agency and pathways), and the health-related quality of life of 197 uninsured/underinsured adults in the United States living with at least one chronic health condition.

RESULTS

Results indicate that number of chronic health conditions negatively impacted health-related quality of life and that agency significantly mediated that relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study can be used to promote health-related quality of life by empowering individuals to take charge of their lives despite their unique contextual circumstances.

A Brief Hope Intervention to Increase Hope Level and Improve Well-Being in Rehabilitating Cancer Patients: A Feasibility Test

This article reports on the feasibility and effect of the brief hope intervention (BHI) in terms of increasing the hope level and psychological and physical health outcomes of rehabilitating cancer patients (RCP). Chinese RCP living in the community were invited to join the study. The BHI consisted of four one-on-one sessions: two (1-hour) face-to-face sessions and two (30-minute) telephone follow-up sessions in between. There were three core features in the hope therapy: (a) goal thoughts: finding workable goals, (b) pathway thoughts: finding ways to reach the targets, and (c) agency thoughts: positive self-talk to optimize their motivation to accomplish the set goals. A one-group pre- and postintervention design was used. Outcome measures included the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the State Hope Scale. Recruitment, attrition, and qualitative feedback were collected to understand their comments on BHI. A total of 40 participants were recruited (female 92.3%). The mean age was 57.2 years (SD = 6.7). The participants had significant improvement in all aspects of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, with moderate-to-large effect sizes (d = 0.49-0.74). The changes in present hope and depression scores were insignificant, with small effect sizes (d = 0.17-0.34). The BHI seemed to be promising in producing both physical and psychological benefits in RCP.