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Children’s Hopelessness Scale
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About Children’s Hopelessness Scale
Scale Name
Children’s Hopelessness Scale
Author Details
Alan E. Kazdin, Nancy H. French, Alan S. Unis, Karen Esveldt-Dawson, and R. Bruce Sherick
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Children’s Hopelessness Scale (CHS), developed by Alan E. Kazdin, Nancy H. French, Alan S. Unis, Karen Esveldt-Dawson, and R. Bruce Sherick in 1983, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure negative (hopeless) future expectations in psychiatric inpatient children aged 8 to 13. Adapted from the adult Hopelessness Scale by Beck et al. (1974), the CHS assesses cognitive distortions associated with pessimism and despair, key features of depression and suicidality. Published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the scale was created for use in clinical settings to evaluate hopelessness as a risk factor for severe psychopathology, aligning with Beck’s cognitive theory of depression, which links negative expectations to emotional and behavioral dysfunction.
The CHS comprises 17 items rated on a binary scale (0 = “false,” 1 = “true”), assessing beliefs about the future (e.g., “I might as well give up because I can’t make things better for myself” or “I don’t think I will have any real fun when I grow up”). Higher scores (range: 0-17) indicate greater hopelessness. The scale was validated in a sample of psychiatric inpatient children, primarily with diagnoses like depression, conduct disorder, or anxiety disorders, making it suitable for high-risk clinical populations. Its simple language and binary format accommodate young children’s cognitive and reading abilities.
Psychologists, clinicians, and researchers use the CHS to identify hopelessness, assess suicide risk, and evaluate treatment outcomes in child psychiatric settings. Its focus on clinical populations and moderate reliability make it valuable for targeted assessments, though its English-only availability, specific age range, and modest psychometric properties limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the CHS from primary sources, such as Kazdin et al. (1983) in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology or authorized research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses their thoughts about the future to support mental health care, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate, trauma-sensitive language.
- Provide instructions, asking children to mark each of the 17 items as “true” or “false” based on their current beliefs about their future.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, depending on reading ability and emotional processing.
- Administer individually in a clinical or research setting, using paper or oral formats for younger children or those with reading difficulties, ensuring a private, supportive environment to minimize distress.
Reliability and Validity
The CHS demonstrates moderate psychometric properties, as reported by Kazdin et al. (1983). Internal consistency is acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.62, indicating modest item cohesion, likely due to the binary format or variability in children’s cognitive responses. One-year test-retest reliability is moderate, with a correlation of 0.48, reflecting some stability but also sensitivity to changes in clinical status or developmental shifts.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as the Children’s Depression Inventory (r = 0.40-0.60) and suicidal ideation (r ≈ 0.50), and its association with clinical diagnoses of depression. Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as externalizing behaviors in non-depressed children (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to differentiate between depressed and non-depressed inpatients and predict suicide risk, consistent with Beck’s adult scale findings. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on hopelessness supports construct validity. The moderate reliability and stability suggest cautious use, particularly in longitudinal studies or with less severe populations.
Available Versions
17-Items
06-Items (Modified Version)
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., Unis, A. S., Esveldt-Dawson, K., & Sherick, R. B. (1983). Hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed inpatient children. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 51(4), 504.
Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: the hopelessness scale. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 42(6), 861.
Kazdin, A. E., Rodgers, A., & Colbus, D. (1986). The hopelessness scale for children: psychometric characteristics and concurrent validity. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 54(2), 241.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CHS measure?
It measures negative (hopeless) future expectations in children.
Who can use the CHS?
Clinicians, psychologists, and researchers assessing psychiatric inpatient children.
How long does the CHS take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the CHS specific to psychiatric inpatients?
Yes, it targets children aged 8-13 in clinical settings.
Can the CHS inform clinical interventions?
Yes, it identifies hopelessness and suicide risk, but moderate reliability requires caution.
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