@article{ref1, title="Refining the Assessment of Hopelessness: An Improved Way to Look to the Future", journal="Death studies", year="2013", author="Fisher, Lauren B. and Overholser, James C.", volume="37", number="3", pages="212-227", abstract="Despite its high sensitivity, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) has demonstrated low specificity, has an ambiguous factor structure, and includes inadequate items. The current study examined the psychometric properties of a modified BHS (mBHS) using a Likert scale format that would allow for improved reliability, validity, and clinical utility. Measures of hopelessness and depression were administered to 116 undergraduates. The mBHS demonstrated reliability over 10 weeks ( r  = .78) and internal consistency (α = .91). The BHS and mBHS were similarly effective in identifying suicidal ideation. The mBHS provides clinicians with a simple alternative for assessing hopelessness and suicide risk.

Language: en

", language="en", issn="0748-1187", doi="10.1080/07481187.2011.628437", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2011.628437" }