Health-related hardiness in individuals with chronic illnesses.

The aims of this study were to (a) describe health stressors, health-related hardiness, perception of illness impact, self-perception of health status, and psychosocial 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 perception of illness impact, lower perception of health status, and poorer psychosocial 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.