The development and validation of the Hopelessness Inventory-5 in a community-based sample

Background: Hopelessness is an important risk factor for depression and suicide. However, few suitable measures exist for use in the general population, limiting research testing aetiological models. The present study aimed to develop and validate a new measure of hopelessness using a community-based sample. Method: Twenty-nine candidate items underwent refinement via three sequential stages– (1) feedback from 15 experts, (2) scale development (N = 218), and (3) scale validation (N = 218)—resulting in the final 5-item scale, the Hopelessness Inventory-5 (HI-5). Results: EFA and CFA supported the unidimensionality of the new HI-5 scale, with excellent fit indices (SRMR=0.02, RMSEA=0.06, CFI=0.99, TLI=0.97). High Cronbach's alpha (0.92) indicated that the scale was internally consistent. Bivariate correlations with related constructs supported both convergent and divergent validity. Comparing information curves of the HI-5 and a shortened BHS indicated that the HI-5 provided more information across a wider range of the latent trait. Limitations: The HI-5 was not validated against the original BHS. The sampling method may have led to limited hopelessness scores in the very high range and overrepresentation of females. Conclusions: The HI-5 is a brief, succinctly-worded, and freely available scale, developed using expert feedback and validated in a community sample. It is intended to facilitate the advancement of research and theory that include hopelessness as a key risk factor for mental ill health in the general population.