Given the current youth mental health crisis in the United States, many adolescents report experiencing low levels of hope – a longstanding concern that is even more pressing as the new school year begins. Substantial research over decades has established that higher levels of hope are linked with greater academic achievement, as well as improved emotional and physical health.
Now, a new study shows that hope does even more: it acts as a powerful protective force in the lives of children, helping to reduce both bullying and cyberbullying.
The study by Florida Atlantic University , in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, surveyed a nationally representative group of more than 5,500 students in the U.S. aged 12 to 17. A key group of 2,472 students completed the Children's Hope Scale, a brief assessment that measures two core components of hope: agency and pathways.
Agency reflects a child's belief in reaching goals, while pathways measures their ability to find ways to do so. Students rated statements like "I think I am doing pretty well" and "I can think of many ways to get the things important to me," from "none of the time" to "all of the time." Responses were combined into a hope score from 0 to 30, with higher scores showing greater levels of hope.
Results, published in the journal Frontiers in Sociology , show that students with less hope were 56% more likely to cyberbully others than their peers over their lifetime, and 57% more likely over the last 30 days. Those with more hope were 36% less likely to cyberbully others over their lifetime and over the last 30 days when compared to their peers with lower levels of hope. The key takeaway? Hope matters. It buffers against the urge to aggress against others online and off.
"Hope acts as a powerful protective factor against both school bullying and cyberbullying among youth," said Sameer Hinduja , Ph.D., lead author, a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice within FAU's College of Social Work and Criminal Justice , co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center , and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. "When young people believe in their ability to set meaningful goals and stay motivated to reach them, they are far less likely to lash out or harm others. Hope gives them a sense of direction – and that can make all the difference."
Strengthening hope could therefore be a powerful strategy in preventing bullying, by helping young people build resilience, maintain self-control, and invest in their futures instead of harming others in the present. This insight opens important pathways for educators, parents and policymakers to support youth development in more hopeful, constructive ways.
"When youth struggle to imagine a positive future for themselves or lack confidence in their ability to achieve meaningful goals, they may become frustrated and more prone to acting out aggressively," said Hinduja. "This lack of hope undermines their motivation to pursue positive outcomes and weakens the internal controls that usually guide behavior. Without these guiding forces, their willingness to harm others – whether face-to-face or online – increases."
However, schools in the U.S. don't often focus on teaching hope and similar "soft" skills, mostly because they lack the resources and know-how. Hinduja and co-author Justin Patchin, Ph.D., a professor of criminal justice, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, say that this is a missed opportunity because research shows that building social and emotional skills like hope can improve attendance, grades, wellbeing and more.
"Teaching hope isn't just a feel-good initiative; it's a practical, evidence-based way to help young people thrive," said Hinduja.
The researchers suggest hope can be meaningfully strengthened through brief, practical interventions – making it a realistic and powerful tool for educators and counselors. Even short sessions, such as one-on-one counseling, scenario-based activities, or small group work, can help students build hope by encouraging goal setting, problem-solving and motivation.
One effective method is hope therapy, a structured approach that guides youth to set meaningful goals, identify ways to reach them, and stay motivated along the way. Whether delivered individually or in group settings, this approach helps students develop a clearer sense of purpose and direction. Assigning students – especially those who have bullied others – positive, purposeful roles where they can contribute also can redirect their behavior in constructive ways.
"I have long believed in the power of positive youth development and our research reinforces that," said Hinduja. "Hope doesn't just make kids feel better – it can actually reduce the likelihood of them victimizing others. We need to prioritize hope-building whether through individual mentoring, group programs or school-wide initiatives. Intentionally fostering hope is incredibly important – not just to reducing bullying and cyberbullying, but also promoting healthier, happier and higher-achieving children."
- FAU -
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