Measurement of Psychological Hardiness in Older Adults

Findings are presented on the psychometric properties of a short psychological hardiness measure using subjects predominantly aged over 60 years. The sample of 223 participants was administered the hardiness questionnaire and other instruments twice, with a one-year test-retest interval. First-order factor analysis yielded three factors termed challenge, control, and commitment. Second-order factor analysis revealed a single main factor of general hardiness on which all the first-order components loaded highly. Both internal consistency and test-retest forms of reliability were in the range 0.6 to 0.7. Concurrent validity was illustrated by significant correlations between hardiness and measures of happiness and adjustment.