Health-Related Hardiness in Individuals With Chronic Illnesses

The aims of this study were to (a) describe health stressors, health-related har-diness, perception of illness impact, self-perception of health status, and psy-chosocial adjustment to illness in individuals living with an inherited bleeding disorder; (b) determine relationships between health stressors, health-related hardiness, perception of illness impact, self-perception of health status, and psychosocial adjustment to illness; and (c) determine if perception of illness impact had a direct and/or mediating effect on the relationship between health stressors, health-related hardiness, and self-perception of health status and psychosocial adjustment to illness. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Sixty participants composed the sample. Participants completed five questionnaires. Higher health stressors were associated with higher percep-tion of illness impact, lower perception of health status, and poorer psy-chosocial adjustment to illness. Individuals with higher perception of illness impact were associated with lower self-perception of health status and poorer psychosocial adjustment to illness