Family Hardiness Research Articles

Illness perception and family resilience in gynaecologic cancer patients: A study on the mediating role of hope.

To investigate the level of family resilience among patients with gynaecologic cancer and explore hope as a mediator between perceptions of illness and family resilience. A cross-sectional study. From May to October 2022, researchers used convenience sampling to survey 320 patients with gynaecological cancer at a level 3A hospital in Jinan City. The study instruments included the General Information Questionnaire, Family Hardiness Index, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Herth Hope Index. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyse the mediation effect of hope. The mean score for family resilience was 55.86 ± 8.62. Illness perception was negatively associated with family resilience, while hope was positively associated with it. Additionally, hope mediated the relationship between illness perception and family resilience. There is considerable room for improvement in family resilience among patients with gynaecologic cancer. Interventions aimed at increasing hope can enhance family resilience. Healthcare providers can boost family resilience by fostering hope in patients, thereby promoting effective coping and adaptation to cancer. Patients primarily completed the questionnaires, providing insights into the factors that hindered and facilitated the development of family resilience. These findings were communicated to caregivers for further understanding and action.

THE UNTOLD STORY OF HAVING A FAMILY MEMBER AS TERROR CONVICT: STUDY OF FAMILY HARDINESS & FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

Families with members charged for terrorism face immense challenges. This study aims to understand family hardiness and family perspective of families who have family members as terrorists convict. Using a phenomenological approach, we explore family perspectives and family hardiness in three informants (father,mother, older sister of a terror convict). The results of this study reveal that family develops family hardiness through the stages of shock and early adaptation, surrender and believe in God during the hard times, confidence in dealing with difficult circumstances, identifying challenges and formulating constructive attitudes, and working together as a unit to control difficult situations. We also found how one family and its internal communication can possibly become the fuel to form a positive perspective, and to strengthen the belief to move forward. These results imply family hardiness is formed as a whole by the process of how a family accepts the effects of difficult situations and works together as a unit to overcome it. We call for more attention to strengthening support for families, at both social and policy levels, because these actions and initiatives can help families with difficult situations, e.g. a family who has a member as a terrorist convict to cope and adapt successfully, preventing them from experiencing severe psychological burdens and depression as they possibly received stigma and social exclusion.

Fear of cancer recurrence in adolescent patients with malignant bone tumors: a cross-section survey

BackgroundAdolescent malignant-bone tumor patients' fear of cancer recurrence is a significant psychological issue, and exploring the influencing factors associated with fear of cancer recurrence in this population is important for developing effective interventions. This study is to investigate the current status and factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) related to malignant bone-tumors in adolescent patients, providing evidence for future targeted mental health support and interventions.DesignA cross-sectional survey.MethodsIn total, 269 adolescent malignant-bone tumor cases were treated at two hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China from January 2023 to December 2023. Patients completed a General Information Questionnaire, Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), Family Hardiness Index (FHI), and a Simple Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions analysis were used to assess fear of cancer recurrence.ResultsA total of 122 (45.4%) patients experienced FCR (FoP-Q-SF ≥ 34). Logistic regression analysis analyses showed that per capita-monthly family income, tumor stage, communication between the treating physician and the patient, patient's family relationships, family hardiness a positive coping score, and a negative coping score were the main factors influencing FCR in these patients (P < 0.05).ConclusionsFCR in malignant-bone tumor adolescent patients is profound. Healthcare professionals should develop targeted interventional strategies based on the identified factors, which affect these patients; helping patients increase family hardiness, helping patients to positively adapt, and avoid negative coping styles.

Psychological health status of Chinese university students: based on Psychological Resilience Dynamic System Model

IntroductionThe mental health of unverisity students is influenced by diverse factorsis multifaceted, requiring further investigation to evaluate its current status and determinants. The present study aims to address this gap by targeting Chinese university students and employing the Psychological Resilience Dynamic System model. Through a questionnaire survey, this research endeavors to explore the mental health status and influencing factors. Ultimately, the findings of this study aim to provide a theoretical basis and tailored practical guidance for the development of mental health intervention strategies for university students.MethodsBased on the Psychological Resilience Dynamic System Model, the mental health status of 3,390 Chinese university students from 15 universities was empirically investigated with the principle of stratified sampling and the geographical distribution and disciplinary diversity of universities. The questionnaires used included Kessler psychological distress scale, psychological resilience scale,positive psychological capital scale, family hardiness index and social support scale. Among the participants, 47.85% were male and 52.15% were female. Regarding the origin, 42.89% of the students were from rural areas, while 57.11% were from urban areas.ResultsKey findings unveil: (1) A prevalence of 24.54% in students has suboptimal mental health, with 18.70 and 5.84%, respectively, representing those with poor and relatively poor mental health conditions; (2) A noteworthy negative correlation (p &amp;lt; 0.01) between mental health scores of university students and nine pivotal factors, including psychological resilience, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience, family resilience, objective support, subjective support, and support utilization; (3) Eight factors, including grade, family economic status, psychological resilience, self-efficacy, optimism, family resilience, objective support, and support utilization, emerge as significant predictors of university students’ mental health (p &amp;lt;0.001), collectively elucidating 57.9% of the total variance in mental health.DiscussionThe aforementioned research results, indicate that the influencing factors on the mental health of university students encompass four main aspects. These include individual demographic factors such as grade and family economic status, positive psychological capital factors such as psychological resilience, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience, family resilience factors including responsibility, control, and challenge, and societal support factors including objective support, subjective support, and support utilization. Based on this, this paper focuses on four recommendations: giving full play to the leading role of universities in mental health education and stress intervention, strengthening the educational power of positive family ideals and role modeling, building a support system for positive social atmosphere and psychological counseling, and improving the self-shaping ability of university students’ psychological resilience and positive psychological capital. These recommendations aspire to better promote the mental health of university students and provide a strength reserve for psychological problem intervention.

Relationship between illness perception and family resilience in gynecologic cancer patients: the mediating role of couple illness communication.

To analyze the current family resilience levels of Chinese patients with gynecologic cancer and explore the mediating role of couple illness communication between illness perception and family resilience to facilitate patient adaptation to cancer. A total of 310 patients with gynecologic cancer were selected from the gynecology ward of a tertiary care hospital in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. All participants provided their demographic and clinical information and completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Couples' Illness Communication Scale (CICS), and Family Hardiness Index (FHI). The mediating effect of couple illness communication was analyzed using SPSS26.0 and Amos21.0. The family resilience score of patients with gynecologic cancer was moderate (55.78 ± 8.65). Illness perception was negatively correlated with couple illness communication(p < 0.05) and family resilience(p < 0.01), while couple illness communication was positively correlated with family resilience (p < 0.01). Couple illness communication mediated the relationship between illness perception and family resilience [β = - 0.071; 95% confidence interval: (- 0.127)-(- 0.013)]. The family resilience of patients with gynecologic cancer must be further improved. Since couple illness communication mediates the relationship between illness perception and family resilience in this population, it is important to improve patients' illness perceptions and couple illness communication to enhance their family resilience.

Effect of stressors on family adaptation in stroke patients: A parallel multivariable mediation model

AimsThe mechanisms underlying how stressors affect family adaptation are unclear. This study determined the relationship between stressors and family adaptation among stroke patients, particularly the parallel mediating role of family function and family resilience. Methods and resultsThe study was conducted in the neurology ward of a tertiary hospital in China. A total of 335 stroke inpatients were interviewed face-to-face from August 2020 to March 2021. A questionnaire was administered that included demographic characteristics, the Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes, Family Apgar Index Scale, Family Hardiness Index Scale, and Family Adaptation Scale. The demographic data and correlations among the research variables were analyzed. A bootstrap method using the SPSS PROCESS macro was employed to test a mediation model. Family adaptation was negatively related to stressors (r = -0.291, p < 0.01) and positively related to family function (r = 0.531, p < 0.01) and family resilience (r = 0.393, p < 0.01). Furthermore, family function and family resilience played parallel mediating roles between stressors and family adaptation. ConclusionsThis study elaborated how stressors interacted with family adaptation through the mediation of family function and family resilience. The findings suggest that enhancement of family function and family resilience may help to improve family adaptation among stroke patients.

Hardiness as a Resilience Factor for Adaptation in Families of Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Mixed Methods Study of Parents' Perspectives.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a rare multisystem genetic disorder with over 200 associated characteristics, occurring in various combinations and severity. Extensive biomedical research has been undertaken on 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, however, there is a dearth of research on families' experiences of managing a family member with this condition. The complex and at times serious phenotypical presentation of the syndrome can make the management of the condition difficult for families. The aim of this mixed method explanatory sequential study was to investigate family hardiness as a resilience factor for adaptation in families of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome from parents' perspectives. We found that adaptation scores increased by 0.57 points (95% CI: 0.19-0.94) for every one-point increase in family hardiness score. Qualitative results indicated that acceptance of the child's diagnosis and support positively influenced hardiness whereas fears about the future and their experiences of loss negatively influenced hardiness.

Couple communication quality and family resilience among Chinese gynecologic cancer patients and their spouses: a dyadic study

The purpose of this study was to explore the couple communication process for gynecologic cancer (GC) patients and their spouses. Particular attention was given to examining the relationship between couple communication quality and family resilience for GC dyads. In this cross-sectional study, 354 dyads were recruited from a gynecology ward of a public hospital in China. The patients and their spouses completed the Couples' Communication Quality Scale and the Family Hardiness Index. This study used the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine the effect of couple communication quality on family resilience in distinguishable GC dyads. Both GC patients and their spouses reported a moderate level of couple communication quality and family resilience, but spouses reported better couple communication and family resilience than patients. With the exception of perceived response, for which only a patient actor effect was observed, the factors of couple communication quality had significant actor effects on family resilience for both patients and spouses. Additionally, four significant partner effects were found: spouse self-disclosure, stress coping, and productive action positively predicted patients' family resilience, while patient normalcy crafting positively predicted spouses' family resilience. This study not only highlights the need for couple-based communication strategies for developing family resilience but also identifies differences in the experiences of patients and their partners, which provides a direction for future intervention research. Through the development of interventions at a dyadic level, spouses can be encouraged to actively engage in communication, which may promote mutual family resilience in a larger sense.

Resilience in Informal Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure in China: Exploring Influencing Factors and Identifying the Paths.

In the fight against heart failure (HF), informal caregivers are an indispensable part of the team. As a protective factor against stress, resilience can help to enhance caregivers' psychological adaptation and ultimately increase the quality of care during the HF caregiving period. Recognizing its predictors and exploring how these variables interact could promote tailored strategies to enhancing caregivers' resilience of HF patients. Thus, this study aimed to identify promoting and risk factors of resilience in informal caregivers of HF patients from the Chinese context and to understand the interactions between these factors and resilience. This cross-sectional study was conducted from December, 2020 to March, 2022 among 210 caregivers in Nanjing, China. The General Information Questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and the Family Hardiness Index were used in this survey. Data were analysed with Pearson's correlation analysis, the multiple linear regression model and the structural equation modeling (SEM). The resilience of 210 Chinese HF caregivers was at the moderate and higher level (66.40±15.08). The SEM had a good fit (root mean square error of approximation=0.047, comparative fit index=0.994, Tucker-Lewis index=0.987). Perceived social support (β=0.390, P<0.001), positive coping style (β=0.159, P=0.019) and self-efficacy (β=0.332, P<0.001) had positive direct effects on resilience among HF caregivers, separately. Both perceived social support (β=0.04, P<0.001) and self-efficacy (β=0.07, P<0.001) indirectly influenced resilience through positive coping style. We recommended that multi-dimensional and greater social support, higher self-efficacy and especially, positive coping strategies should be offered or encouraged during the caregiving period, which may contribute to enhancing HF caregivers' resilience.

Path analysis of the effects of life stress and social support on rural adolescents' quality of life in Taiwan: Family hardiness as a mediator

Background: Health of the adolescents is an important determinant of adult health. Multiple factors may affect the adolescents' health. Aim: This exploratory cross-sectional study was to explore the effects of life stress, social support, and family hardiness on quality of life (QoL) in rural adolescents (15 to 19 years old) whose family had encountered adverse disaster events. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 350 adolescents met study criteria with 265 completing all questionnaires (response rate = 75.71%). Based on stress process model, we hypothesized that life stress and social support would directly and indirectly influence QoL, and family hardiness mediates the effects of life stress on QoL. Path analysis was employed to analyze the association among life stress, social support, family hardiness, and QoL. Results: The study showed that life stress, social support and family hardiness are significantly associated with adolescents' QoL: life stress (β = ‒ 0.30, P < 0.001), social support (β = 0.18, P = 0.010), and family hardiness (β = 0.21, P = 0.002). Life stress and social support had significant association with family hardiness: life stress (β = ‒0.23, P = 0.001) and social support (β = 0.29, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Life stress directly and indirectly influences QoL through family hardiness. Family hardiness can buffer the effects of life stress. Social support could improve the adolescents' QoL. To promote QoL, it is important for healthcare providers to attend rural adolescents' life stress, and provide psychosocial interventions to enhance family hardiness and social support.

Posttraumatic Growth: The Role of Trauma Exposure and Family Hardiness Against Pasigala Liquefaction Survivors

The natural disaster occurred in PASIGALA in 2018 left a significant impact on the survivors of liquefaction. Research on recovery after a disaster focuses on the positive outcomes by survivors. This study aims to determine the role of trauma exposure and family hardiness in developing posttraumatic growth (PTG). Participants in this study were 147 adult survivors (Musia = 23.06, SD = 4.12) spread across Palu City and Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi. PTG was measured by Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Short-Form (PTGI-SF), trauma exposure was measured by modification of the Earthquake Exposure Questionnaire and Impact of Event Scale, and family hardiness was measured by Family Hardiness Index (FHI). The hierarchical regression test found that trauma exposure and family hardiness significantly predicted 7% and 17.2% of posttraumatic growth variances when other variables were controlled. Then, the mediation test showed that family hardiness had a significant or partial role as a mediator between trauma exposure and PTG. The more trauma exposures experienced by individuals when natural disasters occurred, with a higher level of family hardiness, individuals would achieve a higher PTG condition (c = 0.759, p &lt; 0.01) than if only considering the role of trauma exposure (c' = 0.301, p &lt; 0.01). This shows that family hardiness is an important factor to consider when assisting liquefaction disaster survivors who are exposed to traumatic events in developing posttraumatic growth

Dyadic communication quality and family resilience in gynecologic cancer survivors: a study on the mediating role of perceived spousal support.

To analyze the level of family resilience in Chinese gynecological cancer survivors and determine whether perceived spousal support plays a mediating role in the relationship between dyadic communication quality and family resilience, enhance the confidence of families in coping with the disease together, and thus promote psychosocial adaptation to cancer. A total of 348 gynecologic cancer survivors were selected from a gynecologic ward in a public hospital in Shandong Province, China. All participants completed the Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Questionnaire, Couples' Communication Quality Scale (CCQS), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and Family Hardiness Index (FHI). The mediating effect of perceived spousal support was estimated using the bootstrap method via IBM SPSS AMOS 21.0. The mean FHI score was 53.03 ± 9.34 points, showing moderate levels of family resilience. Family resilience was shown to be significantly positively associated with both perceived spousal support and dyadic communication quality (both p < 0.01). Furthermore, perceived spousal support was shown to partially mediate the relationship between communication quality and family resilience (β = 0.141; 95% confidence interval: 0.063-0.243). The level of family resilience in survivors of gynecologic cancer needs to be further improved, and perceived spousal support partially mediates the relationship between dyadic communication quality and family resilience within this population. Therefore, dyadic communication quality and subjective perceived spousal support should be enhanced for gynecologic cancer survivors to increase their family resilience.

The moderating role of trajectories of family hardiness in the relationship between trajectories of economic hardship and mental health of mothers and children.

Trajectories of perceived economic hardship are related to clinical levels of mental health issues in mothers and children from low-income families. Cross-sectionally, family hardiness has been found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between stressors and mental health severity. Recent advances in family resilience theory highlight the importance of considering trajectories of family resilience. Trajectories of family hardiness and their moderating effect on the relationship between trajectories of perceived economic hardship and symptoms of depression and anxiety in low-income mothers and children were investigated in 511 mother-child dyads in Singapore. Three trajectories of family hardiness were delineated, namely the high stable, low rapidly increasing and moderate increasing group. The trajectories of family hardiness were found to moderate the relationship between trajectories of perceived economic hardship and symptoms of mental health in low-income mothers and children. The same moderation effect was not found when perceived economic hardship and family hardiness were investigated cross-sectionally. These findings highlight the importance of considering the family's trajectory of hardiness over time when working with low-income families. In addition, given that different trajectories of family hardiness were protective for different aspects of mental health, further studies to understand these relations are necessary.

A Study on the Relationship between Sense of Disease Uncertainty and Family Strength and Mental Resilience in Guardians of Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease is difficult to cure, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of children and brings negative psychological stress to guardians. Uncertainty in illness of guardians reduces the ability of care and is not conducive to the treatment and recovery of children. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the related factors of uncertainty in illness. Objective The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between sense of disease uncertainty and family strength and mental resilience in guardians of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Method A total of 146 guardians of 88 children with inflammatory bowel disease were investigated. The guardians' sense of disease uncertainty, family strength, and mental resilience were evaluated by Mishel uncertainty in illness scale-family member (MUIS-FM), family hardiness index (FHI), and Connor–Davidson resilience sca1e (CD-RISC), respectively. Spearman correlation was used for analyzing the correlation between the guardian's sense of disease uncertainty and family resilience. Results The guardian's MUIS-FM score from lowest to highest was complexity, unpredictability, lack of information, and uncertainty. The average scores of FHI and CD-RISC were lower than the average score of CD-RISC of the general community in China 65.4 (t = −4.36, P < 0.05). The score of MUIS-FM was significantly correlated with the scores of FHI and CD-RISC (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the challenge score in the FHI scale and the fortitude score and the strength score in the CD-RISC scale were the main influencing factors of guardians' sense of disease uncertainty in children with IBD (P < 0.05). Conclusion The guardians of children with IBD had a more serious sense of disease uncertainty, which was related to family strength and mental resilience.

Do spouse burden of care, family resilience, and coping affect family function in gynecologic cancer in Korea?: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate family functioning among spouses of gynecologic cancer patients in Korea. McCubbin and McCubbin's Family Resilience Model (1993) guided the study focus on burden of care, family resilience, coping, and family functioning. An online survey collected data from 123 spouses of gynecologic cancer patients through convenience sampling from online communities for gynecologic cancer patients in Korea. Burden of care, family resilience (social support, family hardiness, and family problem-solving communication), coping, and family functioning were measured by self-report. The patients (44.7%) and their spouses (47.2%) were mostly in the 41 to 50-year age group. Stage 1 cancer was 44.7%, and cervical cancer was the most common (37.4%) followed by ovarian cancer (30.9%) and uterine cancer (27.6%) regarding the cancer characteristics of the wife. Family function, burden of care, family resilience, and coping were all at greater than midpoint levels. Family functioning was positively related with social support (r=.44, p&lt;.001), family hardiness (r=.49, p&lt;.001), problem-solving communication (r=.73, p&lt;.001), and coping (r=.56, p&lt;.001). Multiple regression identified significant factors for family functioning (F=25.58, p&lt;.001), with an overall explanatory power of 61.7%. Problem-solving communication (β=.56, p&lt;.001) had the greatest influence on family function of gynecologic cancer families, followed by coping (β=.24, p&lt;. 001) and total treatment period of the wife (β=.17, p=.006). Nurses need to assess levels of family communication and spousal coping to help improve gynecologic cancer patients' family function, especially for patients in longer treatment.

Effect of Narrative Nursing on Family Resilience and Psychosocial Adaptation of Middle-Aged Patients with Breast Cancer.

Patients with breast cancer frequently experience psychological distress. This study aimed to investigate the effect of narrative nursing on middle-aged patients with breast cancer. In all, 82 patients with breast cancer admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were divided into two groups, namely, the observation group and the control group, by simple random sampling, with 41 cases in each group. The patients in both groups were treated with breast cancer surgery. Additionally, the control group received routine nursing, whereas the observation group received narrative nursing based on the control group. After 8 weeks of nursing, the SAS (self-rating anxiety scale) and SDS (self-rating depression scale) scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). At the same time, the result of family hardiness showed that the patients with narrative nursing performed better in commitment, challenge, and control (P < 0.01). In conclusion, narrative nursing can alleviate the postoperative shame and negative emotions of patients with breast cancer and improve their quality of life.

The relationship of caregiver strain with resilience and hardiness in family caregivers of older adults with chronic disease: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundProviding long-term home care to older adults with chronic diseases may endanger the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of caregivers and lead to care strain.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the relationship of caregiver strain with resilience and hardiness in family caregivers of older adults with chronic disease.MethodologyThis cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in 2020–2021 in Tehran. Participants were 230 family caregivers randomly recruited from 8 urban health care centers. Data were collected using a personal characteristics questionnaire, the Modified Caregiver Strain Index, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Family Hardiness Index, and the data were analyzed by using SPSS 22 version. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied for data analysis. P-values ≤0.05 were considered significant.ResultsA total of 230 caregivers participated in the study. The mean age of participants was (46.65 ± 13.63) years and most of them were female (73.9%). Mean scores of caregiver strain, resilience, and hardiness in family caregivers were 16.23 ± 4.5, 39.89 ± 10.9, and 31.21 ± 7.79, respectively. Pearson correlation showed a significant and inverse correlation between caregiver strain and resilience (r = -0.310, P = 0.002), and also a significant and inverse relationship between caregiver strain and hardiness (r = -0.276, P = 0.001).ConclusionIn this study, family caregivers had moderate caregiver strain, low resilience, and high hardness. Caregiver strain in family caregivers of older adults with chronic disease is an important health issue associated with resilience and hardiness. To promote health, effective adaptation to long-term care, and reduce caregiver strain, designing effective interventions to increase resilience and hardiness in family caregivers seems necessary.

Resilience Among Residents from the Areas First Affected by COVID-19 in South Korea.

PurposeThis study aimed to identify the factors affecting the resilience of residents of South Korea, from areas where the coronavirus disease of 2019 outbreak first occurred.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used, with a convenience sample of 212 residents from Daegu and Gyeongbuk, areas that were first affected by COVID-19 in South Korea. Data were collected through a structured self-administered survey from September 3 to September 5, 2020. The questionnaire included general characteristics, post-traumatic stress, perceived health status, family history, and resilience. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression.ResultsResilience was correlated with post-traumatic stress, perceived health status, and family hardiness. Factors influencing resilience were family hardiness, economic status, and residence.ConclusionThere is a need for strategies and intervention programs that aim to improve family resilience and reduce the impact of economic losses caused by pandemics.

Predictors of maternal distress among mothers in economic hardship: A classification and regression tree analysis (CART).

A recurrent observation in poverty research is the association between many attendant stress factors and the high incidence of maternal distress. In this study, we reason that such risk factors do not preclude mothers from possessing adaptive capacities, through perceived parenting efficacy and family hardiness, as buffers against two common distress sources in low socioeconomic status (SES) households-perceived children's emotional and behavioral problems, and family's economic hardship. Using classification and regression tree analysis, we examined the moderating roles of these maternal factors in emotional distress with 513 Singaporean mothers of elementary school-age children on government financial scheme. The study affirmed that this low-resource population is not homogeneous in their perceived levels of distress and adaptive resources. These factors moderated mothers' distress along different pathways. Parenting efficacy emerged as the most important predictor across different maternal distress levels. Perceived family hardiness behaved in a unique way, evident only with mothers who reported moderate-severe distress levels. Almost half the respondents reported normal-mild distress levels. Economic hardship did not emerge as a significant predictor. The findings reiterate the usefulness of attending to both situation-specific personal efficacy beliefs and trait-like family hardiness in their potential values to buffer mothers living under economic strain. Research and practice implications were identified. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Hope in Low‐Income Families—A Study of Family Hardiness in Singapore

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether family hardiness mediates the relationship between economic hardship and hope of mothers and children from low‐income families.BackgroundEconomic hardship has been found to be associated with lower hope in adults. The ABC‐X model suggests that the resources available could be a mediator of this relationship. However, there is a lack of studies investigating family‐level hardiness as a potential mediator of this relationship in low‐income families.MethodMother–child dyads (N = 512) from low‐income families in Singapore were surveyed. Simple mediation was conducted to investigate family hardiness as a mediator between economic hardship and hope of mothers and children. Significant simple mediation results were followed up with parallel mediation, with family commitment, challenge, and control as mediators.ResultsFamily challenge accounted for the mediation effect in mothers, whereas global family hardiness accounted for the mediation effect observed in children.ConclusionThe inability of low‐income families to adapt and reorganize their family system in response to their economic situation could account for lowered hope in mothers. Children's hope is affected by economic hardship through global family hardiness, possibly due to undifferentiated perception of the construct.ImplicationsInterventions that build up family hardiness are recommended to practitioners.