Longitudinal analysis of hope in community-based older adults.

Clinicians usually agree that hope helps older persons to cope with stressful life events and changes in their life, and that hope may even affect their health. However, little research has examined whether hope functions as a psychosocial factor in modifying the relationship between stress and health. Older adults experience many events, which may make them more vulnerable than younger persons to loss of hope. These events may involve changes in their health, roles, self-concept, social support, housing, and income. If we know how these events affect hope, we may be able to detect and avert lapses in hope among our older patients, and even shape interventions that enhance hope.