The Relationships Among Hardiness, Attachment Style, and Trauma Among At-Risk Homeless Adolescents

This study examined the relationships between attachment style, social connectedness and hardiness to explore the predictive nature these factors may have on resiliency to trauma in an at-risk homeless adolescent population. Multiple regressions and bivariate correlations were used to assess the significance these factors may have on moderating trauma response. The results supported a secure attachment model in which variables of confidence and need for approval were associated with higher total hardiness. There were also positive correlations between total hardiness and social connectedness; however, both of these factors were not associated with moderating symptom severity of trauma symptoms. Findings support the burgeoning research that protective factors, such as secure attachment styles and social connectedness, are positively associated with total hardiness. Further research will be valuable in determining how hardiness impacts the outcomes of stressful experiences beyond trauma symptomology.