Character & Virtue

Hope

What gives people hope—and how early does it start? Drawing on data from over 200,000 people in 22 countries, our research reveals that hope isn’t just an emotion or virtue—it’s shaped by our childhoods, our communities, and our beliefs. From family bonds to spiritual practices, hope begins long before adulthood.

Researchers

Victor Counted

Regent University, Psychology

Byron R. Johnson

Baylor University, Institute for Studies of Religion/Sociology

Katelyn Long

Harvard University, Public Health

Cristina Gibson

Pepperdine University, Psychology/Organizational Studies

Richard Cowden

Harvard University, Psychology

South Africa

Tyler VanderWeele

Harvard University, Epidemiology / Biostatistics

Alicia Cortright

James Walsh

William Hathaway

Fernando Garzon

Charlotte Witvliet

The Question:

How do childhood experiences, culture, and life circumstances—like family, health, faith, education, and work—shape how hopeful people feel around the world? What can we learn to help the next generation grow up with more hope?