Standardization of the Czech version of the Snyder´s Adult dispositional hope scale

Hope is one of important factors affecting the psychological state of individuals. It influences well-being and self-esteem, academic and athletic performance, and even the probability of repeated incarceration of offenders. It also predicts the efficacy of the systematic psychotherapy of mental disorders, as well as the supportive psychotherapy in patients with oncologic illnesses. Hope has a central position in positive and clinical psychology. The aim of the presented work was to translate the adult dispositional hope scale into Czech, verify its psychometric properties and develop the norms for interpreting the resulting scores. The scale could be helpful both in mental health research and practice. 394 healthy adults participated in the study. The average age of the probands was 27.1 + 11.7 years. There were more women (n = 303; i.e. 76.9 %) than men. The most common level of education was secondary (n = 309; 78.4 %). The participants were mainly students (n = 273; 69.3 %) or employees and self-employed individuals (n = 113; 28.7 %). Most of them were single (n = 300; 76.1 %) or married (n = 84; 21.3 %). The Adult Dispositional Hope Scale consists of 12 items. Four items measure pathways thinking (i.e. the ability to find ways to achieve one's goals) and four items assess agency (i.e. goal-directed energy). The remaining four items are fillers that are not interpreted. Apart from this scale, all participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the second version of the Beck Depression Inventory. The statistical analyses consisted of the Cronbach's alpha and Spearman-Brown coefficient analysis, the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the correlation between the standardized scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and finally the creation of the norms based on the stens. The overall rate of hope was not statistically significantly associated with the subjects' age (Spearman r = -0.06, non-significant), nor with their sex (Mann-Whitney U test: U = 13,624.5, non-significant). Reliability of the whole scale was assessed by using the Cronbach's alpha (? = 0.82) and the split-half method (the Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.81). The inner consistency of both subscales was also adequate (the pathways thinking ? = 0.71, the agency ? = 0.73). The factor structure of the scale was confirmed by the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Nevertheless, the exploratory factor analysis identified the ninth item of the scale as problematic. I