HOPELESSNESS IN A COMMUNITY POPULATION IN JAPAN

The Japanese version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale was administered t o a total of 154 community residents. The internal consistency (KR-20) was .86. The mean BHS score was 8.6 (SD = 3.9), approximately one sta ndard deviation higher than the reported mean for an Irish general pop ulation. The BHS scores were found to be significantly correlated with the age and the number of people living together, Significant negativ e correlations were found with subjective physical fitness, self-confi dence, satisfaction with accommodation and marital state, and adjustme nt in the work place. The mean BHS score was significantly higher amon g those individuals who had experienced early maternal or paternal dea th than those who had not. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.