Cultural variations in hopelessness, optimism, and suicidal ideation: A study of Ghana and US college samples

As a follow-up study on previous findings of cultural differences in responses to depressive mood, college students from Ghana and the United States completed measures of hopelessness, optimism, and suicidal ideation. Statistical analyses were performed to compare differences in means between the two countries. Compared to the U.S. sample, Ghanaian college students reported less feelings of hopelessness, t(179) =-3.365 p < .001, and were significantly more optimistic, t(208) = 6.609, p < .0001. Furthermore, the U.S. sample endorsed significantly more items on the suicidal ideation scale, t(207) = 2.121, p < .035, than their Ghanaian counterparts. The role of factors such as cultural variations in an individual's sense of belonging, social support, and expectancies is discussed in light of the present findings. Implications and directions for future research are also considered.