A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF HARDINESS IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER (SENSE OF PURPOSE, ENDURANCE).
Contributors: St. Louis University.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 185
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Personality.; Women's Studies.
Description: The purpose of this study was to expand the theoretical development of hardiness. Social psychologists defined hardiness as a stress-resistance resource comprised of commitment, control, and challenge. They developed the concept solely through the study of male executives. Nurses and other social scientists have used the concept extensively, but many concerns remain about the concept, including its definition.

The qualitative method of grounded theory was used to investigate the nature of hardiness as manifested by women with breast cancer. Thirteen women, identified by nurses as having handled their experience of cancer particularly well, were recruited from a university medical center. Semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed through the method of constant comparison. Recorded fieldnotes, theoretic and analytic memos, and personal reflections were compiled to create an audit trail.

Two major characteristics of hardiness were identified: a strong sense of purpose, and the ability to endure. These characteristics were described in terms of their internal dimensions, manifestations, and outcomes. A strong sense of purpose was initiated by the needs of others, manifested through the women's caring for themselves, engaging in meaningful activities, and striving for normalcy, and had as its outcomes the determination to go on and growth in inner strength. The ability to endure was initiated by acceptance of the breast cancer, manifested through physical and mental strategies, and had as its outcomes alterations in relationships, change in life perspective, and personal growth.

Comparisons of the findings were made with the original conceptualization of hardiness. For women demonstrating feminine hardiness in a life-threatening illness, commitment and control were evident as manifestations of the broader characteristics of a strong sense of purpose and the ability to endure. Challenge was not represented except possibly as a stressor which evoked the women's hardiness.

The findings of this study extend the theoretical definition of hardiness by offering a conceptual portrait of feminine hardiness. The key elements of this hardiness are not reflected in current measures of the concept, but clearly need to be. Future theory and research are needed on the relationships within the characteristics, for example, inner strength and personal control through choosing.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4295.

Thesis (PH.D.)--SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY, 1996.

School code: 0193.