Hardiness: An examination of its relationship with positive and negative long term changes following trauma

Two models positing direct versus moderating effects of hardiness were exam ined in relation to long term positive and negative changes following expos ure to traumatic stress. Participating in the study were 164 Israeli POWs a nd a matched group of 184 veterans of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires that included the Personal Views Sur vey (hardiness); the Trait, Attitude, and Behavior Change questionnaire; an d questions related to their captivity/war experiences. Findings were consi stent with a model that posits moderating effects of hardiness on both long term negative and positive changes. The discussion addresses the possible role of hardiness in relation to negative and positive outcomes of traumati c events.