In a recent study, researchers from the University of Missouri found that hope may be more important for our well-being than happiness or gratitude. The study demonstrated that hope is a standalone positive emotion that directly contributes to the experience of meaning in life. They discovered that hope does more to push people forward than even happiness does.
To conduct the study, the researchers held six experiments involving over 2,300 participants. They analyzed a wide range of positive emotions, such as pleasure, satisfaction, excitement, and happiness. The studies consistently showed that only hope predicted that people experienced their lives as more meaningful.
Laura King, a psychology professor involved in the study, emphasized the importance of these findings. "Experiencing life as meaningful is crucial for almost everything you can think of as 'good' in someone's life," she said. King added, "This foundation of psychological functioning is not a rare experience. It is accessible to everyone in daily life, and hope is one of the things that makes life meaningful."
Megan Edwards, a postdoctoral scholar at Duke University and the lead author of the study, discussed the evolving understanding of hope's role in psychology. "Our research shifts the perspective on hope from merely a cognitive process related to goal attainment to recognizing it as a vital emotional experience that enriches life's meanings," she stated. Edwards also noted, "This insight offers new possibilities to improve people's mental well-being."
The study has important implications. While many recognize the importance of hope, understanding just how vital it is to well-being has been elusive. The researchers found that hope is increasingly linked to goal-setting and motivation in psychology. Hope begins with the belief that situations can change and is rooted in the future and the idea that it can be better than ever imagined.
Matthew Gallagher, an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Houston, explained the nature of hope. "Hope is how we can think about our goals for the future, the extent that we can identify pathways or strategies to achieve those goals and then maintaining the motivation or the agency to kind of keep working towards those goals, even in the face of obstacles or setbacks," he said.
In contrast, happiness, though important, is more of an in-the-moment emotion. People feel happy because of something that happened, but that happiness can easily be replaced by other emotions within a short span if something less desirable occurs. Gratitude is retrospective; it's essential to feel gratitude for the good things that have happened, but it has little bearing on the present.
The researchers offered tips to become more hopeful. One strategy is to consciously appreciate positive moments, even the small ones. Recognizing progress makes it easier to believe in a positive future. Valuing growth and potential, both in oneself and in others, fosters belief in a positive future.
Seizing opportunities, even in chaotic or uncertain times, can increase hope. Such activities give meaning to life and show that one is investing in something that will bear fruit later. Activities like raising children or planting trees symbolize future and growth. Engaging in these pursuits when life feels unstable can give the feeling of making progress.
In moments when life feels heavy, it's important to remember that nothing is permanent. The researchers advise not to give up but to appreciate what is going well. "The goal is to develop strategies that help people remain hopeful and find meaning, even when they face setbacks," Megan Edwards said. She added, "Future research will investigate the power of hope, especially in the toughest times."
According to psychology professor Laura King, experiencing meaning is an essential part of our mental health. The researchers emphasized that hope has a positive impact on both physical and emotional health. Traci Pedersen noted for PsychCentral that hope led to lower rates of cancer and chronic illness, as well as a decreased mortality rate.
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