Life events are important in the course of hopelessness-a 2-year follow-up study in a general population.

BACKGROUND

The association between life events and hopelessness in a general population is unknown.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the course of hopelessness and how positive and negative life events are associated with it.

METHOD

This was a 2- year follow-up study among general population adults, excluding any with a mental disorder. The impact of 15 occasional life events during the follow-up was assessed and the course of hopelessness measured with the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS).

RESULTS

Four percent of the study subjects with no hopelessness at baseline and 56% of those with hopelessness at baseline reported hopelessness on follow-up. In multiple logistic regression analyses, a notable worsening of the subjective financial situation was revealed as the most important life event, both in becoming hopeless during the follow-up (OR 5.07; 95% CI 2.20-11.7) and in continued hopelessness (OR 7.51, 95% CI 2.19-25.8). Moreover, considerable interpersonal conflicts at work (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.17-9.27) were associated with becoming hopeless. However, a notable positive change in common living conditions (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.74) was found to be a protective factor against becoming hopeless. All these variables remained significant even when adjusted for change in depression scores (BDI).

CONCLUSION

Hopelessness may be persistent in a general population. The impact of life events, especially a notable worsening of the subjective financial situation, is important in becoming or remaining hopeless.