Sense of coherence and psychosocial factors among adolescents

Abstract

The overall aim of the present study was to investigate whether there was a relationship between sense of coherence and psychosocial factors among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of pupils in year eight from comprehensive schools in Stockholm city, selected with regard to socioeconomic area. In the final sample of the study there were 383 pupils: 196 girls and 187 boys. Two questionnaires, the Sense of Coherence Scale and the Health Profile Scale measuring health behaviour, were used to collect data. Girls showed a significantly more negative outcome compared with boys, in eight psychosocial factors. The most pronounced difference between boys and girls was seen in feeling depressed: 17% and 54% respectively. Five factors proved to be associated with low SOC in the multivariate analysis: life dissatisfaction, feeling depressed, worries about family members, poor psychosomatic health and being a girl. The findings reveal domains where adolescents, especially girls, seem to be more vulnerable. Psychosomatic health and mental health are related to low sense of coherence.