Individuals living in impoverished conditions are prone to higher levels of hopelessness, while those experiencing elevated hopelessness are more likely to endure increased poverty (Patel & Kleinman, 2003; Ridley et al., 2020). The entanglement of hopelessness and stress contributes to a poverty trap, anchoring individuals at the poverty level. In contrast, individuals with a positive outlook on their future, characterized by higher levels of hope, tend to make more substantial investments in their future, resulting in improved financial outcomes (Eggers et al., 2003). 

Researchers found that higher levels of hope strengthen the relationship between financial capabilities and one’s perception of access to resources (Gilbert & Ashley, 2020). Moreover, hope is also linked to agricultural technology adoption; individuals with elevated levels of hope are more inclined to take proactive steps toward achieving their goals, making hope a catalyst for embracing innovative farming techniques and improving our food supply (Bukchin and Kerret, 2018). Alarming data from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control underscored the pressing issue of farmer suicides, with farmers being twice as likely as individuals in other occupations to die by suicide (Peterson et al., 2020). Farming is one of the most perilous industries; thus, it is imperative to acknowledge hope’s role in buffering against suicide (Behere & Bhise, 2009; Huen et al., 2015).

Hope plays a crucial role in promoting health and well-being across various aspects of life, potentially preventing numerous health conditions. This is because individuals who are higher in hope have an optimistic view of life, leading them to take action to preserve their health (Harvard T.H. Chan, 2021). 

For example, individuals with elevated hope often adopt healthier behaviors, such as more frequent exercise, reduced fat intake, and avoidance of substance misuse (e.g., Berg et al., 2011; Meraz et al., 2023;  Nsamenan & Hirsch, 2014). These positive health behaviors, as demonstrated by Harvard University’s “The Human Flourishing Program,” are linked to improved physical health and health-related outcomes, including a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, fewer chronic conditions (i.e., diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, and overweight/obesity, chronic pain), reduced risk of some mental health conditions (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), and improved sleep patterns (Feldman & Sills, 2013; Long et al., 2020; Senger, 2023). Additionally, we know that hope is related to an increased sense of connectedness and belonging, which is also linked to prevention and positive health outcomes (Wothington, 2020).  

In addition to prevention efforts, hope is a documented intervention in health outcomes. For example, researchers have found individuals with higher hope adhere to treatment plans better than those low in hope, as they are more motivated to reach recovery goals (e.g., Javanmardifard et al., 2020; Kurita et al., 2020). Moreover, research indicates that higher hope is linked to expedited recovery times from injuries and diseases, with individuals higher in hope having a more favorable prognosis for postoperative recovery (Long et al., 2020; Zhu et al., 2017; Zou et al., 2022). 

Hope emerges as a crucial factor that predicts academic success and plays a pivotal role in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment (e.g., Bryce et al., 2019; Day et al., 2010; Dixson & Stevens, 2018).  Researchers found that students high in hope also have stronger friendships, more creativity, and better problem-solving, which are all skills that help them navigate the challenges of school and work toward graduation (Zakrzewski, 2012). Additionally, hope helps protect against depression and anxiety, which are predictors of school dropout (Hjorth et al., 2016). 

Hope also predicts academic achievement better than intellectual functioning (Bryce et al., 2019; Dixson & Stevens, 2018), and studies consistently show that students with higher levels of hope tend to invest more effort into their educational goals and persist in the face of challenges (Idan & Margalit, 2013; Halpin, 2001)  also reported that teachers higher in hope were able to motivate the most disaffected students. Students with higher hope levels during their first year of college consistently demonstrate significantly higher grades at the end of three years, indicating that hope is not merely a short-term motivator but a sustained driver of success (Day et al., 2010). Moreover, the significance of hope is particularly evident in the context of students with learning disabilities who often face additional hurdles (Idan & Margalit, 2013). 

Globally, women and girls encounter discrimination based on sex and gender, contributing to various challenges such as domestic and sexual violence, unequal pay, limited access to education, and insufficient healthcare (Amnesty International, 2023). Recognizing the profound impact of hopelessness on health, education, and workplace outcomes, it becomes imperative to equip women and girls will the skills to cultivate hope as a strategy for promoting gender equality. 

The adverse effects of climate change-induced challenges (e.g., flooding, tornados, etc.) pose physical threats and people exposed to such disasters often suffer from acute traumatic stress, and their symptoms persist until safety and security are reestablished (Fritze et al., 2008). Furthermore, the looming threat of essential resources, such as water, becoming more scarce due to climate change intensifies anxiety among populations (Fritze et al., 2008).  Increasing hope protects it against the anxiety related to water scarcity while also opening up pathways for innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to address the pressing problems of water scarcity (Fritze et al., 2008; Rahimipour et al., 2015).

Individuals with higher levels of hope exhibit a greater capacity to overcome obstacles and discover innovative pathways toward the goal of achieving clean energy (Marlon et al., 2019). Moreover, elevated levels of hope contribute to enhanced problem-solving abilities, particularly in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions (Chang, 1998; Geiger et al., 2019). Research underscores the significance of constructive hope, defined as making progress on clean energy, coupled with constructive doubt, acknowledging the reality of the threat of climate change (Marlon et al., 2019). 

The significance of hope in the workplace is underscored by a Gallup study, which identified hope as one of the four primary needs of employees (Berg, 2020). The Gallup study’s measure of hope in the workplace revealed that employees who strongly agree that their leaders make them feel enthusiastic about the future are 69 times more likely to be engaged in their work compared to those who disagree with this statement (Berg, 2020). 

Moreover, the impact of hope on productivity is substantial, accounting for about 14% of work productivity, surpassing the influences of intelligence, optimism, or self-efficacy (Lopez, 2013). Additionally, hope serves as a protective factor against anxiety and depression, mitigating the economic burden associated with lost productivity (Hicks & McFarland, 2020). Depression and anxiety alone are estimated to cost the global economy USD 1 trillion per year, with projections reaching USD 16 trillion by 2030 (Chodavadia et al., 2023). 

Individuals with higher levels of hope exhibit superior problem-solving skills and enhanced creativity, essential elements for the development of resilient infrastructure and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialization while fostering innovation. Hope produces an optimistic mindset, allowing individuals to approach the challenges of building infrastructure and industrialization as opportunities for growth, leading to effective problem-solving and the generation of innovative solutions (Weronika et al., 2022). 

Additionally, hope serves as a precursor to resilience, instilling the confidence and determination needed to overcome setbacks and persist in the face of challenges (Senger, 2023).

Hopelessness is often a consequence of oppression and discrimination, so it continues the cycle of oppression as all the related negative outcomes of hopelessness are in the cycle of poverty (Mitchell et al., 2020). Teaching hope, especially in disadvantaged communities, is a strategy to improve self-efficacy to create strategies to get out of poverty both within and among countries.

Hope plays a pivotal role in enhancing the safety and resilience of cities. Research demonstrates that elevated levels of hope contribute to a reduction in substance use and criminal behaviors (Brooks et al., 2016; Martin & Stermac, 2010; Mathis et al., 2009). Furthermore, a positive correlation exists between higher levels of hope and a decreased likelihood of recidivism, leading to a subsequent reduction in overall crime rates and improving the safety of cities and communities (Dekhtyar et al., 2012). Additionally, hope is associated with a decline in sexual risk behaviors and teen violence, as indicated by various studies (Hill et al., 2019; Li et al., 2022). 

Extensive research suggests that personal motivation, environmental motivation, and hope are robust predictors of early adoption of environmentally friendly technologies (Bukchin & Kerret, 2019). In this context, hope plays a pivotal role in encouraging responsible energy consumption, as higher levels of hope are linked to a greater propensity to embrace greener alternatives, thereby contributing to sustainable consumption practices. Furthermore, by increasing collective hope within communities, there can be widespread shifts towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. 

Numerous studies have underscored the positive relationship between hope and engagement in climate-change-related activities, as well as pro-environmental behaviors (e.g., Bury et al., 2019; Ojala, 2023; Ojala, 2011). For example, Bury et al. (2019) found that hope can be used as an antecedent for group motivation toward an outcome that is not within one’s sole ability to obtain, which is applicable to combatting climate change. Moreover, Sangervo et al. (2022) found that a combination of climate-change-related anxiety and hope were adaptive emotions and could be used as a motivator for taking action against climate change. 

There is a two-way relationship between ocean health and human well-being, as the ocean accounts for 20% of our food supply (Costello et al., 2020; NOAA, 2023). Moreover, how we manage and take care of the ocean directly impacts our health, as pollution affects our food supply and leads to ocean-related natural disasters (i.e., tsunamis and hurricanes; NOAA, 2020). Hope is a strategy to help sustain our ocean’s health, as individuals with higher hope are better at problem-solving, and we need effective strategies to prevent and reduce ocean pollution (Zakrzewski, 2012). 

Hope demonstrates a positive correlation with pro-environmental actions, encompassing the sustainable utilization of land and the incorporation of green technologies in agriculture (Bukshin & Kerret, 2020; Peles & Kerret, 2021). Consequently, when individuals harbor hope, farmers are more inclined to embrace environmentally friendly agricultural technologies, thereby reducing land degradation resulting from pesticides or suboptimal crop yields (Wang, 2022).