A quick, evidence-based questionnaire that gauges expectations about the future and feelings of hopelessness.

Answer based on how you have felt during the past week.
Most people finish in < 3 minutes.
Choose the option that best reflects you—there are no right or wrong answers.
You can revisit any item using the list on the right before finishing.
Your responses stay on this device and are never uploaded.

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Your BHS Result

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Scores range from 0 – 20; higher numbers indicate greater hopelessness.

This screen does not diagnose depression or suicidality. If feelings of hopelessness worry you, please speak with a qualified mental-health professional.

Your Answers

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Categories: Assessment , Health & Fitness , Psychology

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Hopelessness is a persistent expectation that future events will turn out badly and that personal goals are unobtainable. Decades of clinical studies link high hopelessness to depression, suicidal ideation, and poorer physical‑health outcomes. Understanding your own outlook helps you decide whether additional support or coping strategies are warranted.

This tool adapts the 20‑item Beck Hopelessness Scale. You mark each statement True or False for the past week; a reactive engine instantly converts responses into a 0–20 score. A colour‑coded gauge and concise summary classify your result as Minimal, Mild, Moderate, or Severe hopelessness.

For example, after a challenging semester you might complete the questionnaire to gauge how pessimism has affected you; *scores are for personal insight, not proof of illness.* **Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.**

Technical Details:

Concept Overview

The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) operationalises hopelessness as the sum of negative future‑expectation statements endorsed by an individual. Each item reflects one of three dimensions—loss of motivation, future expectations, and feelings about the future—allowing researchers to quantify risk factors that correlate with depression severity and suicidal intent.

Core Equation

TotalScore = \sum (s_{i}), where s_{i} = item score (0 or 1) after reverse‑coding if applicable

Interpretation Bands

0 – 3: Minimal hopelessness
4 – 8: Mild hopelessness
9 – 14: Moderate hopelessness
15 – 20: Severe hopelessness

Parameter	Meaning	Range / Values
Item Response	User choice per statement	True, False
Reverse‑coded	Inverts optimistic items	Boolean
`s_i`	Per‑item score	0 or 1
TotalScore	Sum of all `s_i`	0 – 20
Severity Band	Risk category	Minimal • Mild • Moderate • Severe

Worked Example: A respondent marks 6 pessimistic items as “True” and 4 optimistic items as “False” (after reverse‑coding). TotalScore = 10, falling into the Moderate band.

Assumptions & Limitations

Self‑report accuracy depends on honest reflection.
Seven‑day recall window may not capture chronic mood states.
Scale was validated on clinical and non‑clinical adult samples.
High scores suggest—but do not prove—suicidal intent.

Edge Cases & Error Sources

Incomplete questionnaires yield undetermined severity.
All “True” or all “False” produce extreme scores that may not mirror nuanced feelings.
Random answering undermines reliability.
Translation may alter item valence.

Scientific Validity & References

Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: The Hopkins Hopelessness Scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Subsequent validations include Clarkson & Gibbs (2014) and Osman et al. (2019).

Privacy & Compliance

No personal data leaves your browser; scoring occurs entirely client‑side, supporting GDPR principles for data minimisation.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

Complete the questionnaire in sequence or jump between items; the chart updates as soon as every response is recorded.

Select Start Assessment to reveal the first statement.
Choose True or False for how you felt over the past week.
The progress bar advances; continue until all 20 items are answered.
Review the colour‑coded gauge and summary explanation.
Optionally print or save the results table for personal records.

FAQ:

What does the total score mean?

It represents the number of pessimistic responses. Higher numbers signal stronger feelings of hopelessness and warrant attention.

Is my data stored?

No. Responses are processed locally; closing the page erases them.

Can this diagnose depression?

No. The BHS is a screening indicator. Only qualified clinicians can diagnose mood disorders.

Why are some items reversed?

Positive statements are reverse‑scored so that every “hopeless” answer contributes equally to the total.

What if I skip an item?

The tool withholds a score until all items are completed to maintain accuracy.

Glossary:

BHS: Abbreviation for Beck Hopelessness Scale.
Reverse‑coding: Scoring method that flips optimistic items.
Severity Band: Risk category derived from the total score.
Gauge Chart: Semi‑circular charting layer visualising scores.
Self‑assessment: Questionnaire completed without clinician supervision.

Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) Assessment