A groundbreaking new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia has found that hope—rather than happiness, excitement, or even gratitude—is the most powerful positive emotion predicting the sense of meaning in life. The research, spanning six separate studies and over 2,300 participants, challenges decades of conventional wisdom about what truly underpins psychological well-being and offers actionable insights for fostering resilience, both globally and here in Thailand.
For many years, psychology has positioned hope chiefly as wishful thinking or simply a cognitive tool to help in achieving future goals. However, this new analysis, led by researchers from Mizzou’s Department of Psychological Sciences and supported by a broad international team, reveals that hope functions as a unique, emotional cornerstone capable of enriching life’s meaning beyond fleeting moments of happiness. As shared by the study’s lead researcher, now a postdoctoral scholar at Duke University, “Our research shifts the perspective on hope from merely a cognitive process related to goal attainment to recognizing it as a vital emotional experience that enriches life’s meaning.” (Neuroscience News)
Why is this news of particular significance for Thai readers? In Thailand, where mental health is receiving increasing attention and people face economic, social, and health-related uncertainties, finding practical strategies that foster lasting well-being is a pressing concern. Culturally, Thai society has long valued “khwam wang” (ความหวัง, hope)—whether in Buddhist principles of renewal, in Thailand’s community-centric resilience, or in everyday perseverance. Yet, most policy and self-help advice tends to focus instead on cultivating happiness or reducing stress. The new study suggests a rethink: building hope may be more beneficial than merely pursuing happiness.
The research involved analyzing the emotions of over 2,300 people from varied backgrounds—including White US samples and a Chinese daily diary study. Participants’ responses across measures such as amusement, excitement, contentment, happiness, and gratitude all fell short compared to hope when it came to predicting a person’s sense of life meaning. Notably, the studies were methodologically rigorous, including cross-sectional surveys, daily diary tracking, and five-wave longitudinal assessments. In all cases, “hope alone reliably enhanced people’s sense of life meaning,” demonstrating robustness across cultures and contexts.
Concrete benefits tied to a strong sense of meaning—and thus to hope—are numerous. Individuals with higher life meaning show better relationships, greater life satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and higher income levels. As one university professor and distinguished scholar put it, “Experiencing life as meaningful is crucial for just about every good thing you can imagine in a person’s life.” This resonates with findings in global research that sense of meaning is connected to self-care, motivation, and even immune resilience (PubMed).
What makes hope so powerful, according to the researchers, is its accessibility in daily life. Contrary to the belief that meaning is achieved only through major life milestones, the study highlights that “this cornerstone of psychological functioning is not a rare experience—it is available to people in their everyday lives and hope is one of the things that make life feel meaningful.” Small positive moments, noticing growth in oneself or others, nurturing relationships, or simply believing in future change—even amid adversity—can cultivate hope. The study points out that even in chaos, recognizing opportunities or appreciating progress (no matter how gradual) can inspire hope and, by extension, greater life meaning.
Thai experts in mental health, such as leading clinical psychologists at public hospitals and universities, echo these insights. One psychiatry professor from a prominent university hospital in Bangkok, speaking anonymously as per established protocol, notes: “Thailand faces rising pressures, from economic strains to academic stress and social change. This research is valuable because it shows that hope—something anyone can nurture in big or small ways—can act as a buffer against emptiness or despair.” This observation is mirrored by local Buddhist teachings on ‘anicca’ (impermanence) and ‘persistence through uncertainty’, both of which continue to guide Thai resilience in the face of uncertainty.
These findings also align with traditional Thai coping strategies rooted in community and family support. In regions such as the Northeast (Isan), community rituals, collaborative farming, and Buddhist festivals all serve to foster hopefulness and collective optimism, even during difficult times like droughts or economic downturns. Modern interpretations, such as the “To Be Number One” campaign against youth drug use, have also leaned on future-oriented aspirations to motivate positive behavior, adding further local relevance to the study’s message (Thai Public Health Ministry).
On a practical level, the University of Missouri-Columbia team offers several simple methods to cultivate hope in daily life:
- Pay attention to minor positive events—such as a kind word from a friend, a sunny morning, or a small achievement. Savoring these moments fosters a hopeful outlook.
- Seek opportunities amid uncertainty. Even during challenging times (such as the post-pandemic period in Thailand), small steps toward a better future—like learning a new skill or reaching out for help—build momentum.
- Appreciate growth, both in oneself and in others. Recognizing ongoing progress, even if incremental, fosters optimism.
- Commit to nurturing acts, such as caring for family, planting a tree, or volunteering. These long-term investments symbolize belief in a better future.
- Remember impermanence. Even when things seem bleak, nothing stays the same forever. Hope begins with the belief that change is possible.
The relevance for Thai society is profound. As institutions and communities seek to address widespread mental health challenges—especially among youth, rural populations, and those facing economic hardship—emphasizing small, daily acts of hope may be more scalable and culturally resonant than abstract appeals to happiness. Policymakers, educators, and religious leaders can integrate these findings by encouraging hopeful thinking, highlighting stories of resilience, and promoting environments where hope is nurtured, both in families and in schools (Bangkok Post).
Looking back, hope has always played an important role in Thai history. The “Mai Pen Rai” (ไม่เป็นไร) attitude—a form of “never mind, things will work out”—has been both a psychological crutch and a source of misunderstanding abroad. Yet, new research suggests this attitude, when paired with a proactive cultivation of hope, can directly contribute to life’s meaning in measurable ways. Future research from the Missouri team aims to identify precisely how hope operates in the most difficult circumstances—findings that could be particularly valuable for countries like Thailand, where resilience and adaptation are critical.
As Thailand navigates a future that promises more complexity—whether due to climate impact, global economic shifts, or evolving demographics—renewing focus on hope, rather than simply happiness, may prove an especially apt cultural and psychological strategy. Everyday acts of hope, the research suggests, make life more meaningful and buffer communities from ever-changing challenges.
To translate these findings into daily life, Thai readers should seek out and celebrate small wins, cherish acts of compassion (whether received or bestowed), and remind themselves that every crisis contains the seeds of future possibility. For educators and parents, fostering an environment where hope is modeled and shared may be the greatest gift to the next generation. Rather than asking “How can I be happier?”, the new question becomes: “How can I be more hopeful, today?”
Sources: Neuroscience News, University of Missouri-Columbia, PubMed, Bangkok Post, Thai Public Health Ministry