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Stable Hopelessness and its Predictors in a General Population: A 2‐Year Follow‐Up Study
Author(s) -
Haatainen Kaisa M.,
Tanskanen Antti,
Kylmä Jari,
Honkalampi Kirsi,
KoivumaaHonkanen Heli,
Hintikka Jukka,
Antikainen Risto,
Viinamäki Heimo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.33.4.373.25237
Subject(s) - population , psychology , psychiatry , demography , sample (material) , medicine , clinical psychology , gerontology , environmental health , sociology , chemistry , chromatography
Information on hopelessness at the population level is limited, and no previous studies have focused on its stability in a general population. We examined the stability and associated factors of hopelessness in a general population sample of 1,389 adults. More than half of those who were hopeless at baseline remained hopeless on follow‐up. When those with a mental disorder were excluded, the relative risk for stable hopelessness in unemployed men was 7.2 (95% CI 2.6–19.9), in men with a poor financial situation it was 3.5 (95% CI 1.3–9.3), and in women with a poor financial situation it was 3.8 (95% CI 1.5–9.4). Awareness of the stability of hopelessness offers us new possibilities in preventative and mental health work.