Stress Unit 3 - Hardiness A01

Have suggested that people with a hardy personality are better able to deal with stressful situations.

Individuals see themselves as being in control of their own lives rather than external factors and feel a sense of power. The believe that their actions directly influence the course of their lives.

People have a sense of purpose and meaning in their life. They are curious about other people and the world around them and believe no matter how bad things get you should stay involved rather than alienate themselves from the situation.

People see stressful situations as an opportunity for growth and development. They accept that experiencing stress and change is a part of life and something to overcome. Therefore they do not expect life to be easy and learn from failures as well as success.

This is seen as a pathway to resilience against stress. When faced with a stressor the indiv will desire better through processes of coping strategies, self care, and use of social support. As a result, hardy people will experience less of a physiological responder to stress:

Used SRRS and illness survey to compare 2 groups of male business men. Both had experienced high stress over the last 3 years. One had fallen ill and one had not. Personality test showed the group who had experienced stress without falling ill had more of a hardy personality.

Researched employees of bell telephone company who were experiencing a stressful period of redundancies and reorganisation. A third demonstrated hardy personalities and suffered fewer stress related illnesses and heart problems or mental issues such as depression.

Found soldiers with higher hardiness more able to cope with stress as both a result of life events and in combat. Soldiers with hardiness personalities were less likely to experience long term negative health consequences of these events such as PTSD and depression.