title: Hope, social support, and behavioral problems in at-risk children.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of hope, social support, and stress on behavioral problems in a high-risk group of 65 children of incarcerated mothers. Children with low levels of hope had more externalizing and internalizing problems. Children who perceived less social support had more externalizing problems, and children who had experienced more life stressors reported more internalizing problems. Regression analyses indicated that hope contributed unique variance to both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems after social support and stress were controlled. These findings suggest that being confident in one's ability to overcome challenges and having a positive outlook function as protective factors, whereas being less hopeful may place a child at risk for developing adjustment problems. Whether it is possible to foster agency and teach pathways to children with lower levels of hope is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2018, USA. k.a.hagen@atferd.unirand.no
authors.forename: Kristine Amlund
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Virginia H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires