The Relationship between Psychological Hardiness and Social Support in Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Psychological hardiness and social support are two necessary health-elevating factors that strengthen individuals to remain both psychologically and physically healthy despite encountering negative life events.  Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between psychological hardiness and social support in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 110 women with breast cancer in the Shafa Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran in 2018-2019. The personal/demographic/illness questionnaire, Kobasa Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were research tools. Data were analyzed by the one-sample t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation at a significance level of P<0.05.  Results: There was a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and psychological hardiness (r=0.045; P<0.05) and perceived social support and commitment (r=0.469; P<0.05). Also, there was a positive and significant correlation between perceived social support and control (r=0.429; P<0.05) and perceived social support and challenging (r=0.266; P<0.05).  Conclusion: The results showed that psychological hardiness and social supports have a significant relationship; therefore, healthcare providers can use these personality attributes in their care plans for better coping strategies. Perceived social support and psychological hardness can be effective in progressing the patients’ health and should be considered as effective moderating factors in their therapy process.

The Relationship between Psychological Hardiness and Social Support in Women with Breast Cancer Keywords:

Social support , Psychological hardiness , Breast cancer