Hardiness in Health

Case Study # 101416

Medical and Health
Psychology

Hardiness in Health

This paper focuses on a case study that highlights the concept of hardiness in an individual's recovery from a stroke.

1,333 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes how Mr. T and his wife were able to confront their numerous problems by effective use of the concept of hardiness. The paper explains hardiness as referring to the ability of certain individuals to withstand the effects of stress which are potentially damaging to health. The paper discusses the interaction of three sub-concepts of hardiness; control, commitment and challenge.

From the Paper:

"The concept which is most relevant to this client's lived experience of his illness is hardiness. Brooks (2003) explains that hardiness originally was an agricultural concept used to explain the ability of various plants to withstand environmental conditions. One way of understanding hardiness in people is that some can experience high levels of stress without falling ill because they have a personality structure different from people who become ill under stress; this unique personality characteristic is hardiness (Brooks, 2003). Research has repeatedly demonstrated that hardiness functions as a mediator in the stress-illness response. Hardiness can also be termed as psychological toughness and determination to continue, and to be willing to meet stress and hardship. Based on existential personality theory, the hardiness characteristic has been identified as a personality resource that buffers the effect of stress (Brooks, 2003)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Brooks, M. (2003). Health-related hardiness and chronic illness: A synthesis of current research. Nursing Forum, 38 (3), 11-15.
Low, J. (1999). The concept of hardiness. Holistic Nursing Practice, 13 (3), 20-25.
Stedman's (2007). Stedman's online medical dictionary. http://www.stedman's.com
Wang, J. (1999). Verification of the health-related hardiness scale: Cross-cultural analysis. Holistic Nursing Practice, 13 (3), 44-53.