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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
Victor Counted
Regent University, Psychology
Byron R. Johnson
Byron R. Johnson
Baylor University, Institute for Studies of Religion/Sociology
Katelyn Long
Katelyn Long
Harvard University, Public Health
Cristina Gibson
Cristina Gibson
Pepperdine University, Psychology/Organizational Studies
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Richard Cowden
Harvard University, Psychology
South Africa
Tyler VanderWeele
Tyler VanderWeele
Harvard University, Epidemiology / Biostatistics
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Alicia Cortright
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James Walsh
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William Hathaway
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Fernando Garzon
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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?