Hope, stress, and fear of COVID-19 among the Portuguese during the global pandemic

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Herth Hope Index, Perceived Stress Scale, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale using a Portuguese sample. Data were collected in Portugal through a non-probability sampling for convenience. The sample recruited consisted of 870 Portuguese adults. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Herth Hope Index (HHI), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Concerning the scales’ psychometric properties, the results support the validity and reliability of the measures in the Portuguese version. The current research findings showed that a high level of hope is associated with lower stress and fear of COVID-19. Altogether, these results point out hope as a crucial individual psychological resource that contributes to buffering the negative valence affective states such as stress and the fear of COVID-19.