DOES HARDINESS PREDICT ADAPTATION TO SHIFTWORK

This longitudinal study examined whether the dimensions of hardiness ( commitment, control and challenge) predicted psychological symptoms an d dissatisfaction with shiftwork, and whether or not the relationships identified were confounded with neuroticism and extraversion. Female nurses were studied during their first 15 months of shiftwork. Thirty- six nurses worked on a 2-shift (day and evening) schedule throughout a nd 66 transferred from the 2-shift schedule to a 3-shift (day, evening and night) schedule after 6 months. Hardiness, neuroticism, extravers ion and symptoms were measured before the respondents began shiftwork (Stage 1). Symptoms and dissatisfaction were measured after 6 months ( Stage 2) and 15 months (Stage 3). Multiple regressions indicated that the hardiness dimensions did not predict dissatisfaction at Stages 2 o r 3, or symptoms at Stage 3. They also failed to buffer the effect of night-work on symptoms. However, commitment did predict symptoms at St ages 1 and 2 and challenge predicted symptoms at Stage 2. Although the se effects were confounded with neuroticism, commitment showed weak ev idence of independent prediction. In general, hardiness was a very poo r predictor of shiftwork tolerance.