Abstract

GARCIA-ALANDETE, JOAQUÍN; GALLEGO-PEREZ, JOSÉ FRANCISCO  and  PEREZ-DELGADO, ESTEBAN. Purpose in Life and Hopelessness: an Empirical Study. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.2, pp.447-454. ISSN 1657-9267.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between purpose in life and hopelessness in a sample of 302 subjects. Hypothesis declare that booth variables are significant, negative, associated. Purpose In Life Test (PIL; Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1969) and Hopelessness Scale (HS; Beck, Weissman, Lester & Trexler, 1974) are used. Statistical used are Pearson's correlation coefficient and Spearman's rho coefficient. Results (r= -0.550, p= 0.000; rs= -0.502, p= 0.000) support hypothesis: purpose in life is negatively associated to hopelessness. High level of purpose in life involve less hopelessness, and existential vacuum is associated to high level of hopelessness, statistically significant.

Keywords : Purpose in life; hopelessness; suicide risk; Life Expectancy; Suicide - Risk factors; Depression - Psychology.

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