| Hardiness was measured among new missionaries in orientation using the Personal Views Survey Third Edition-Revised (PVS III-R). Subjects went to Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America (>34 countries). Culture shock was measured with the Culture Shock Questionnaire after 21, 90, and 180 days on the field (n = 59, 51, and 47). Cultural distance was controlled with the Cultural Distance Questionnaire. PVS III-R control and challenge scales correlated negatively with culture shock at 21 and 90 days ( p < .05). No single scale was significant at 180 days, but the collected effect of the hardiness sub-scales was significant [R2 = .174, F(3.42 = 2.958), p = .043]. Cultural distance showed significance only at 180 days. Hardiness appears to be a significant buffer against the effects of culture shock. |
