| Hope and optimism have been associated with many different positive outcomes. Some researchers have suggested the two constructs are identical while others have maintained that the two constructs are unique. This research sought to determine if hope could be differentiated from optimism on the basis of self-reliance. Scores on the measure of hope, but not optimism, were expected to share a strong positive correlation with a measure of self-reliance. Online Villanova Human Resource Development students and attendees of an annual Villanova Human Resource Development networking event (N = 57) completed the Hope Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised, and a measure of self-reliance spanning three domains: academic, career, and physical fitness. Contrary to expectations, the measure of optimism was significantly correlated to the measure of self-reliance while the measure of hope was not. The difference in correlations was not significant and self-reliance did not prove to be a defining feature between hope and optimism. |
