Predicting Cognitive Functions Based On Health Anxiety With The Mediating Effect Of Psychological Hardiness In Older Adults With Chronic Illnesses

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of psychological hardiness in the impact of health anxiety on cognitive functions in older adults with chronic illnesses. A total of ۹۵ older adults referred to Mehrpaya Clinic in Mashhad were selected through convenience sampling. Chronic illnesses included diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and arthritis. The tools used in this study were the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for assessing cognitive functions, the Kobasa Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire (۱۹۷۹), and the short version of the Health Anxiety Inventory by Salkovskis (۲۰۰۱). Path analysis results revealed that health anxiety had a significant negative impact on cognitive functions, and psychological hardiness mediated this relationship. Furthermore, psychological hardiness acted as a protective factor, mitigating the adverse effects of health anxiety on cognitive functions. These findings highlight the importance of managing health anxiety and enhancing psychological hardiness in older adults with chronic illnesses to preserve cognitive performance. This study provides insights for designing psychological interventions to improve the quality of life in older adults.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health Anxiety ، Psychological Hardiness ، Cognitive Functions ، Older Adults ، Chronic Illnesses