title: Hope seen through the eyes of 10 Australian young people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to report the findings of a phenomenological study that explored hope in 10 young people in Australia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests many Australian young people are in crisis. Examination of key reports that detail the incidence of suicide, early drug-taking behaviours, homelessness, self-harm behaviours, joblessness, depressive disorders, crime statistics and alcohol abuse suggest that many of today's young people have lost resilience as well as vital connections to their community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two methods were employed to encourage the participants to reflect on their experiences of hope - what it is and what it meant to them. The first was to supply participants with a disposable colour film camera and ask them to take pictures that, in their view, showed hope. The second was participation in an in-depth interview that was prompted in part, by their photographs. Interview audiotapes were transcribed verbatim and analysis of the text used the Turner method. The data were collected in 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four horizons of hope were revealed: at-one-with; a driving force; having choices; and connecting and being connected. These horizons are discussed, showing how, or if, the literature treats these dimensions of hope. Perspectives are offered on how they might be considered by nurses who are charged with caring for today's young people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Registered Nurses who work with young people must understand the phenomenon of hope from their unique perspective before they can offer appropriate hope-facilitating strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. desales.turner@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: de Sales
authors.initials: de S
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology