Implications of Self-Reported Levels of Hope in Latino and Latina Youth on Probation

Juvenile justice researchers and practitioners have focused more attention on studying risk factors for juvenile delinquency than on the positive psychological variables that may serve as potential protective factors for at-risk youth. To further understand the role of protective factors associated with desisting from delinquency, this study investigated the presence of self-reported hope within a sample of Latino/a youth on probation (N = 153) and the association of hope with risk for recidivism. Levels of hope were consistent between males and females. Latino/a youth on probation have significantly lower levels of self-reported hope than each of 5 diverse samples of youth from previously published studies. Results also reveal a moderately low correlation between hope and risk for recidivism. Implications for theory, research, and applied practice are discussed.