Special Edition Digest - Love & Hope Measure

This Special Edition Digest presents an in-depth exploration of World Vision’s pioneering research project, Measuring the Experience of God’s Love in Children. The initiative developed the first scientifically validated, cross-cultural tool to assess children’s spiritual well-being through the lens of hope. Drawing on Christian theology, developmental psychology, and empirical methods, the study identifies six core dimensions of hope—Compassion, Joy, Purpose, Resilience, Wisdom, and Personal Faith—as expressions of divine love. The digest outlines the methodology, including child-centered interviews, theological reflection, and psychometric validation across eight countries. It emphasizes the transformative role of loving relationships in nurturing hope and spiritual flourishing and offers a new theory of change for faith-based programming. Designed for global applicability, the tool is culturally adaptable and inclusive of diverse faith traditions, providing a robust framework for measuring and enhancing children’s holistic well-being.