Abstract

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, hope is widely recognized as a significant psychological factor that may play an important role in one’s well-being and adaptability. Despite the fact that hope is receiving increasing attention, there is no conceptual consensus on hope in the relevant literature. Moreover, psychological meaning and implications of hope has not been actively studied in Korea. To address this, the present review attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of the concept of hope from a psychological perspective by integrating the major theories of hope and relevant empirical studies. Synthesizing the previous literature on the cognitive and emotional approaches of hope, hope can be defined as a positive expectation for a brighter future than the past, along with the belief in one's ability to make the future better. In addition, we also introduced various measures of hope, its impact on both subjective and psychological well-being, and factors that may influence hope. Finally, we pose potential directions for future research and also, discuss reexamining issues in the field of hope research.