DOES HARDINESS CONTRIBUTE TO MENTAL-HEALTH DURING A STRESSFUL REAL-LIFE SITUATION - THE ROLES OF APPRAISAL AND COPING

Israeli recruits (N = 276)completed questionnaires on hardiness, menta l health, cognitive appraisal, and ways of coping at the beginning and end of a demanding, 4-month combat training period. Path analysis rev ealed that 2 components of hardiness-commitment and control measured a t the beginning of the training-predicted mental health at the end of the training through the mediation of appraisal and coping variables. Commitment improved mental health by reducing the appraisal of threat and the use of emotion-focused strategies and by increasing secondary appraisal. Control improved mental health by reducing the appraisal of threat and by increasing secondary appraisal and the use of problem-s olving and support-seeking strategies.