Hope, the Foundation of Spiritual Health in Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

Adolescence is a critical period in the life of human beings characterized by risk-taking behavior as one of its prominent features that affects the adolescent’s health. There is a direct relationship between spirituality and health-risk behaviors, indicating the need for promoting preventive interventions. The present study aims to explain the concept of hope as a component of spiritual health from the perspective of adolescents. This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis approach. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with high school students in Tehran (the capital city of Iran) who were selected through purposive sampling and with maximum diversity. Analysis of the data led to the identification of three categories: “connection with the source of hope,” “belief in finding solutions through efforts,” and “having an optimistic view”; the categories together formed the common theme “hope, the foundation of inner peace.” Through effective interventions, health care providers are able to foster hope in adolescents and thus improve their spiritual heath.