title: Caregiver hardiness explored within Watson's theory of human caring in nursing.
abstract: Older family caregivers are often responsible for aged parents or spouses. The purpose of this theoretical article is to review the literature regarding the concept of hardiness, present a summary of Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring in Nursing, explore older caregiver hardiness within Watson's theory, and discuss implications for gerontological nursing. An understanding of older caregiver hardiness within Watson's theory will guide gerontological practice, research, and theory development in nursing.
authors.affiliation: St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Piccinato
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000533:Altruism; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010551:Personality