STRESS: Ind - Hardiness A01

Question 1

The Hardy Personality: Definition

Answer 1

Kobasa & Maddi - People with hardy personality are better able to deal with stressful situations
3 Cs
Control / Commitment / Challenge

Question 2

Hardiness Control

Answer 2

See themselves as being in control of their life; a sense of personal power over a situation

• Their actions will influence their life

Question 3

Hardiness Commitment

Answer 3

Have a sense of purpose and meaning in life

• No matter how bad a situation, you should stay involved rather than alienating yourself
  
  • E.g. An exam - Hardy people would sit even if they didn’t know anything

Question 4

Hardiness Challenge

Answer 4

See stressful situations as an opportunity for growth and development

• Stress is a part of life & something to overcome
• Do not expect life to be easy & learn from their failures

Question 5

Hardy Buffering Against Stress

Answer 5

Hardy personality = Pathway to resilience against stress

When hardy people are faced with a stressor:
- Better coping strategies
- Better self-care
- Use of social support
- Experience less stress related illness due to lower levels of cortisol

Question 6

Hardy Characteristics

Answer 6

Hardy Coping: Identify stressful circumstances & analyses what can be done to resolve them

Hardy Social Interaction: Receives social support from others & are able to give support back

Hardy Self-care: Have a healthy diet & lifestyle and engage in relaxation

Question 7

Non-Hardy Characteristics:

Answer 7

Coping: Avoids stress by engaging in distraction activities
E.g. gambling / overspending

Social Interaction: Feel victimised by those around them

Self-care: Have a poor diet & low exercise levels

Question 8

Hardiness Names

Answer 8

Kobasa & Maddi
Kobasa
Maddi
Bartone

Question 9

Kobasa & Maddi Research Study: Outcome

Answer 9

Demonstrated that those with hardy personalities were better able to cope with stressors in their lives

Question 10

Kobasa Research Study

Answer 10

Used a version of the social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) & illness survey to compare two groups of male business representatives

• One experienced high stress in the last 3 years and had not fallen ill
• One experienced high stress in the last 3 years and had fallen ill

Personality test showed that those who had experienced high stress and had not fallen ill had more hardy personalities

Question 11

Maddi Research Study

Answer 11

Researched employees of Bell Telephone Company who were experiencing a stressful period of redundancies and reorganisation

• 1/3 of individuals were hardy
  
  • experienced less stress-related illnesses (heart problems) and mental health problems (depression)

Question 12

Bartone Research Study

Answer 12

Soldiers with a hardy personality:
- More able to cope with stress
- In life & in combat
- Less likely to experience PTSD and long term effects (depression)