Sense of Family Coherence and the Utilization of Resources by First-Year Students

Abstract

The primary aim of this article is to determine the relationship between students' family sense of coherence, their personal sense of coherence, and the extent to which students use potential sources of support. A biographical questionnaire, a use of resources questionnaire, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the Family Sense of Coherence Scale and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale were completed by 145 first-year students. Only the Family Sense of Coherence and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale were completed by their parents. The results show a significant positive relationship between the way students experience family and personal sense of coherence and the importance of using sources of support. With regard to family coping strategies, significant differences were found between the way students and their parents experience obtaining social support, mobilizing the family to get and accept help, and the passive appraisal of a problem.