Title: The Link Between Hope and Mental Health | Newport Academy
Headings: The Connection Between Hope and Mental Health
The Connection Between Hope and Mental Health
Are Teens and Young Adults Hopeful or Hopeless Right Now?
The Science of Hope
How Hope Impacts Mental Health in Young People
Research on Hope: The Impact on Anxiety and Trauma
Hope and Resilience
5 Ways to Cultivate Hope and Reduce Anxiety

Content: The study authors synthesized the research, conducted over the last decade. Hence, they found five major themes regarding the role hope plays in young people’s mental health: Hope is associated with improved coping
Improved well-being is also associated with hope
Depression and negative life events are less intense for those who are more hopeful
Having hope is a protective factor against suicide and negative, self-deprecatory thinking
A hopeful person is more likely to engage in healthy behaviors. “Hope isn’t the alleviation of fearful risk, or the sidelining of anxiety. It’s the choice to see beyond the current circumstances to something better despite the presence of those feelings.” —Ron Carucci, Organizational Change Consultant
Research on Hope: The Impact on Anxiety and Trauma
Along with improving overall mental health, hope may also play a role in healing specific conditions, including anxiety- and trauma-related disorders. A 2020 study led by Matthew Gallagher, associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Houston, looked at the link between hope and mental health treatment for anxiety. Gallagher and his team studied how hope impacted recovery among 223 adults who were being treated for social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The study concluded that “hope was a common element and a strong predictor of recovery,” said Gallagher.