The Influence of Perceived Social Support on Hope: A Longitudinal Study of Older-aged Adolescents in China

Abstract Hope is a critical indicator of student mental health. Although several studies have examined the predictors of hope, little is known about the role of perceived social support (PSS) in the development of hope. This longitudinal study has two unique strengths. First, the study examined that hope could change across one year in freshmen. Guided by the main-effect model of social support, social networks provide individuals with general positive experiences and can improve one’s general level of happiness and positive life qualities, including hope. Second, this study examined PSS as a possible predictor in the development trajectories of hope. Participants in the present study were 1,283 Chinese university freshmen (65.63% girls; aged 17-22 years). Hope and PSS were assessed at baseline, six months, and one year late. Cross-lagged panel model analysis was used to reveal cross-sectional relationships across three time points and the stability of the auto-regressive path. Latent variable growth models were used to assess the developmental trajectory of hope and the effect of PSS on the changes in hope. The results indicated that hope was in linear growth across the three time points. Notably, we found that PSS significantly predicted hope levels throughout the year, and strongly influenced the trajectory of hope. Additionally, there was a reciprocal relationship between PSS and hope. These findings suggest that hope, as an important aspect of positive psychological functioning, is a flexible stable factor in older-aged adolescents, and can be influenced by PSS. It highlights the contribution of social support on hope, which has significant practical implication on mental health program among university students.