The Relationship between Future Anxiety and Wellness: What is the Role of Hope and Gender?

Introduction: Anxiety about the future can have various effects on individuals’ lives; these concerns can pose a significant risk to the wellness of emerging adults, especially those who are in the process of identity exploration. This study aims to investigate the moderating role of gender and the mediating roles of the hope agency and hope pathways sub-dimensions of hope in the link between future anxiety and wellness. Method: The sample consisted of 334 university students (62.6% female and 37.4% male) aged between 18 and 28 years (M = 21.07; SD = 1.96). Data from the participants were collected using a personal information form, the Future Anxiety Scale in University Students, the Wellness Scale for Emerging Adults, and the Dispositional Hope Scale. The PROCESS macro was used to analyse the moderating role of gender and the mediating roles of hope agency and hope pathways in the relationship between future anxiety and wellness in emerging adults. Results: Hope agency, one of the sub-dimensions of hope, has a mediating role in the relationship between future anxiety and wellness (B = −.11, 95% CI = −.16 to −.06). Gender also plays a moderating role between future anxiety and wellness (β = −.12, 95% CI = −.20 to −.03). Conclusion: In the relationship between future anxiety and wellness in emerging adults, hope agency plays a mediating role, and gender plays a moderating role.