Antonovsky's Sense Of Coherence Scale Research Articles

Association of sense of coherence with oral health behaviors and gingival bleeding among adolescents.

Context:Adolescents experience many types of gingival and periodontal diseases, including gingivitis, localized or generalized aggressive periodontitis, and periodontal complications of various systemic diseases. The occurrence of periodontal diseases is not only related to biotic factors but may also be affected by nonbiotic factors such as oral health behaviors and practices. Various factors that influence an individual's health-related behaviors include a psychosocial construct named sense of coherence (SOC).Aim:The aim of this study is to investigate the association of SOC with oral health behaviors and gingival bleeding.Settings and Design:This was a cross-sectional, analytical study that was done in the school setting.Materials and Methods:A random sample of 850 adolescents was selected from nine schools of the Faridabad block of Faridabad district (Haryana) through the multistage cluster sampling technique. Methods of data collection included a combination of questionnaire administration and clinical examination. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic variables, questions related to oral health behaviors, and Antonovsky's SOC scale. The questionnaire was interviewer administered.Statistical Analysis:Unadjusted and adjusted rate ratios of gingival units having bleeding on probing were estimated by Poisson regression multilevel analysis in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software for Microsoft Office.Results:Adolescents whose mothers had studied <8 years (relative risk [RR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.38), who were males (RR 1.198; 95% CI 1.01–1.29), low SOC (RR 15.93; 95% CI 13.06–19.35), and toothbrushing frequency of less than once a day (RR 1.43; 95% CI 1.21–1.67) and children with plaque index >1 (RR 2.765; 95% CI 2.12–3.25) presented with the higher number of gingival units having bleeding.Conclusion:SOC is associated with gingival bleeding through oral health behaviors.

Associations between APOE-, COMT Val108/158Met- and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms and variations in depressive and anxiety symptoms, sense of coherence and vital exhaustion in the real-life setting of mandatory basic military training.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε, catechol-O-methytranferase (COMT) Val108/158Met and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were shown to affect stress perception and response. The present study explored possible associations between these SNPs and changes in subclinical anxiety- and depressive symptoms, sense of coherence (SOC) and vital exhaustion (VE) during compulsory basic military training. The study encompassed 179 conscripts of a training base in Greece. The neuropsychiatric assessment was based on the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Antonovsky SOC scale and the Maastricht Questionnaire. It was conducted at three time points of the 19-day basic military training: on day one (baseline), day six (follow-up I) and day 13 (follow-up II). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test and cross-sectional time series regression models based on the Skillings-Mack statistic. APOE ε4 non-carriers encountered significant changes in anxiety- and depressive symptoms and SOC (in all cases P < 0.001) over the observation period, whilst ε4 carriers did not. The changes in anxiety, depressive symptoms and SOC attained statistical significance in both BDNF Met66 carriers (in all cases P < 0.001) and non-carriers (P = 0.036; < 0.001; < 0.001, respectively) as well as in COMT Met108/158 carriers (P = 0.004; < 0.001; < 0.001, respectively) and non-carriers (P = 0.02; 0.01; 0.021, respectively. Changes over time in VE were not significant (P > 0.05). The observed resistance of APOE ε4 carriers vs non-carriers to changes in anxiety- and depressive symptoms and SOC when exposed to a stressful environment may point to superior coping capacities of healthy young men carrying the ε4 allele.

The mediational effect of coherence on the relationship between mental load and job burnout among oncology nurses.

The purpose of this study was to determine the mediational effect of coherence on the relationship between mental load and job burnout among oncology nurses. Working stress and strain cause high mental load and can lead to job burnout among oncology nurses. Sense of coherence protects against the negative consequences of occupational mental load and may prevent professional burnout. The study was carried out with 165 oncology nurses from chemotherapy departments. The data were collected from April to September 2013 using the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale, Meister questionnaire, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Manageability mediated the relations between Mental Load and both Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization. Meaningfulness exerted significant mediational effect on the relationship between Mental Load and Depersonalization. Manageability and Meaningfulness attenuate the unfavourable effect of Monotony and Unspecific load on motional Exhaustion and Depersonalization. Sense of coherence, especially Manageability and Meaningfulness, seems to be an important resource for oncology nurses, buffering the negative impact of mental load on well-being of nurses. Strengthening the sense of coherence can be helpful in preventing or dealing with professional burnout.

Caregiver's Sense of Coherence: A Predictor of Oral Health-Related Behaviors of Autistic Children in India.

Context:Sense of coherence (SOC) is hypothesized to be an important psychological factor that enables people to cope with stressors and successfully maintain and improve health.Aim:This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the relationship between oral health-related behaviors of autistic children and SOC of their caregivers.Settings and Design:An Exploratory cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the association of oral health-related behaviors of autistic children and their primary caregiver's sense of coherence in Vadodara city, Gujarat.Methods and Results:A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 58 autistic children and their caregivers. The Gujarati version of Antonovsky's SOC scale (13 items) was employed to assess the caregiver's SOC. The outcome variables were the child's oral health-related behaviors, including frequency of sugary snack intake, toothbrushing frequency, and utilization of dental service.Statistical Analysis Used:Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the variables.Results:Autistic children whose mothers (as caregivers) had higher SOC scores had a lower frequency of sugary snack intake and greater utilization of dental services compared with the children whose mothers had lower SOC scores. The other measures of oral health-related behaviors of the child were not significantly associated with the caregiver's SOC.Conclusion:Oral health-related behaviors of autistic children, namely sugary snack intake frequency, toothbrushing frequency, and utilization of dental services, were associated with the SOC of their mothers.

Impact of Sense of Coherence on Oral Health among Bus Drivers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim and Objectives:To assess the sense of coherence (SOC) and the impact of SOC on oral hygiene behaviors and oral health status among bus drivers in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh.Materials and Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during August–September 2017. Cluster random sampling methodology was used for the selection of drivers. Five depots were randomly selected from the list of various Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation depots in Nellore district. The estimated sample size was proportionately divided among these five depots of Nellore district (n = 120). The SOC-related data were obtained using short version of Antonovsky's SOC scale. Every item was scored on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7. The sum of the scores for SOC was 13–91. A high score indicates a strong SOC. Clinical examination was done for recording oral health status using Oral Hygiene Index-simplified (OHI-S), dental caries, periodontal status, and oral mucosal lesions were recorded according to the WHO criteria 1997. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS ver. 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).Results:Majority of the bus drivers who participated in the study had a low SOC (60%). A significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation was observed with age (r = 0.1420), socioeconomic status (r = 0.1467), and visit to dentist (r = 0.1912). A nonsignificant negative correlation was observed with habits (r = −0.0681), OHI-S (r = −0.0772), dental caries (r = −0.0874), Community Periodontal Index (r = −0.0642), loss of attachment (r = −0.0650), and oral mucosal lesions (r = −0.0542).Conclusion:Strong SOC was associated with increase in age, better socioeconomic status, good habits, increased frequency of dental visits, and a good oral health.

Correlation of sense of coherence with oral health behaviors, socioeconomic status, and periodontal status.

Introduction:The sense of coherence (SOC) has been suggested to be highly applicable concept in the public health area because a strong SOC is stated to decrease the likelihood of perceiving the social environment as stressful. This reduces the susceptibility to the health-damaging effect of chronic stress by lowering the likelihood of repeated negative emotions to stress perception.Materials and Methods:The demographic data and general information of subjects' oral health behaviors such as frequency of cleaning teeth, aids used to clean teeth, and dental attendance were recorded in the self-administered questionnaire. The SOC-related data were obtained using the short version of Antonovsky's SOC scale. The periodontal status was recorded based on the modified World Health Organization 1997 pro forma.Results:The total of 780 respondents comprising 269 (34.5%) males and 511 (65.5%) females participated in the study. A significant difference was noted among the subjects for socioeconomic status based on gender (P = 0.000). The healthy periodontal status (community periodontal index [CPI] code 0) was observed for 67 (24.9%) males and 118 (23.1%) females. The overall SOC showed statistically negative correlation with socioeconomic status scale (r = −0.287). The CPI and loss of attachment (periodontal status) were significantly and negatively correlated with SOC.Conclusion:The present study concluded that a high level of SOC was associated with good oral health behaviors, periodontal status, and socioeconomic status.

Changes in sense of coherence in old age – a 5‐year follow‐up of the Umeå 85+ study

This study aims to describe the changes in sense of coherence (SOC) over time and relate these changes to negative life events among very old people. Prospective and longitudinal study. 190 old women and men participated, of whom 56 could be included in the 5-year follow-up. The mean SOC score from the first and second data collection were compared using a paired sample t-test. The relationship between the index of negative life events and the changes on SOC score between the two data collections was investigate using linear regression. Antonovsky's SOC scale and an index of negative life events including severe physical and mental diseases, various losses as losses of spouses, cognitive and functional ability. For the whole group of subjects (n = 56), the SOC scores was higher (70.1 vs. 73.7, p = 0.029) at the second point measure. The most common negative life events at follow-up were loss of independence in activities in daily living and decrease in cognitive function. A significant correlation between the index of negative life events and changes in SOC over 5 years was found (p = 0.025). The more negative life events, the more decrease in SOC. We concluded that there is a risk of decreased SOC and thereby quality of life when negative life events accumulate among very old people. Nursing interventions might play an important role for maintaining and perhaps strengthening SOC among old people exposed to negative life events.

Academic and social success in adolescents with previous febrile seizures

Objective To study academic achievement and social success in adolescents with febrile seizures (FS) before their 5th birthday. Subjects and methods A random birth cohort ( n = 900) was prospectively followed from early pregnancy and examined at ages 12 and 18 years to study the relationships between FS and school achievement (three most important school marks), behavior and social competence (Achenbach Childhood Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report), life management (Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale) and social participation. Results No significant differences could be detected between children with vs. without FS or between boys vs. girls in academic achievement, behavior, social competence, life management, or social participation, either at age 12 or 18 years, except for more somatic complaints of girls at age 18. Of adolescents with previous FS, 29% had not participated in the maturity examination, 20% had participated but failed and 51% had passed, comparing 35%, 18% and 47%, respectively, of those without FS ( p = 0.6676). Conclusions Our study confirms the findings of the previous population studies reporting similar academic and social success between children with and without febrile seizures before the 5th birthday. Reassurance of the parents about a favorable future may ameliorate their worries at this frightening event in their child's life.

Adolescent gambling: Temperament, sense of coherence and exposure to advertising

This study examines the relationships between gambling behaviour and temperament, sense of coherence (SOC) and exposure to advertising among adolescents, and the interactions between these three independent variables in relation to problem gambling (PG). One thousand and sixty-nine Israeli adolescents (males = 539, females = 530), aged 16–19, were sampled from 19 high schools. The following instruments were used: a gambling behaviour scale; a PG scale; an advertising exposure scale; Buss and Plomin's emotionality, activity and sociability (EAS) questionnaire measuring temperament; and a short version of Antonovsky's SOC scale. The findings indicated a relationship between recall of exposure to advertising and gambling behaviour and PG among adolescents. No correlations were found between SOC and gambling behaviour and PG, and no correlation was found between temperament and gambling behaviour. However, the effect of temperament on PG was significant for girls only. In addition, no interaction was found between the three independent variables relating to PG. The findings of this study underline the social role of advertisements in the process of developing gambling behaviour among adolescents and its effect on problem gambling.

Sense of coherence in three cross-sectional studies in Northern Sweden 1994, 1999 and 2004 — patterns among men and women

To explore changes in sense of coherence (SOC) over a 10-year period in the general population in northern Sweden. Three cross-sectional surveys from 1994 (n=1802), 1999 (n=1698) and 2004 (n=1777), conducted within the northern Sweden MONICA Project, were compared. Participants answered questions about gender, age, experience of disease, perceived health, psychosocial factors and Antonovsky's SOC scale with 13 items. A small, but significant, decrease in SOC medians and a shift of cumulative distributions towards slightly lower SOC values were seen both in the total study population and in its male and female subgroups between 1994 and 1999. No changes were seen between 1999 and 2004, with the exception of women between 25 and 44 years of age, who showed a continuous decrease. The present study shows that SOC at a population level in northern Sweden, within a 10-year span, is relatively stable, not withstanding minor changes. These small changes might be attributed to societal changes in Sweden during the 1990s and an increase in "minor'' psychiatric complaints in the Swedish population as a whole during the same period.

Sense of coherence--stability over time and relation to health, disease, and psychosocial changes in a general population: a longitudinal study.

To explore the stability of sense of coherence (SOC) over time in a normal population and to examine its relation to gender and psychosocial factors. The Northern Sweden MONICA Project population surveys were performed in 1994 and 1999. A cohort of 1,254 subjects participating in both surveys answered questions about experiences of disease, perceived health, marital status, psychosocial factors, and Antonovsky's SOC scale with 13 items. The mean SOC score showed a decrease in the five-year follow-up and those with identified disease and the oldest age group (45-74 years) had the largest decrease of the SOC score. People with the lowest SOC scores in 1994 had the largest decrease during the period. Men and women shared a similar pattern regarding the decrease in SOC over time. The impact of individual social changes during the study period showed that both men and women who had experienced loss of perceived good health and high social support had the largest decrease. Furthermore, women seemed to be more affected by changes than men. We found that SOC was only stable for those with initially high levels of SOC. For other people, individual conditions and societal changes influenced their SOC. Further longitudinal studies in normal populations are needed to investigate the stability of SOC scores.

The applicability of the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale to a group of Pentecostalists.

A methodological issue concerning the Antonovsky of Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale was raised in an earlier study questioning the applicability of the scale in different populations, and among these the Pentecostalists. The question was raised when a group of Pentecostalists had had difficulties in filling in another scale intended to measure the SOC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the applicability of the 29-item Antonovsky SOC scale in a group of people (n = 37) belonging to a church of the Pentecostal Movement and to compare the results with those of a randomized group (n = 145) from a general population. The Pentecostalists filled in the scale with no obvious difficulties. No significant differences were found between the Pentecostal group and the group of a general population regarding the total SOC scale scores (mean 152, SD 16 and mean 151, SD 18, respectively). The applicability difficulties found in the earlier study, however using an other SOC scale, could not be confirmed in the present study. To conclude, the Antonovsky SOC scale has so far not shown to have applicability weakness.

Adolescents' sense of coherence, oral health status, and oral health-related behaviours.

To investigate the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and oral health. It was hypothesised that subjects with better oral health status and better oral health-related behaviours have higher levels of SOC. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Goiânia-GO, Middle-West Brazil, on a sample of 664 15-year-olds randomly selected from schools. Data were collected through questionnaires, the short version of Antonovsky's SOC Scale (13-item) and clinical dental examinations. Multiple logistic regression and polytomous ordered regression were used in the data analysis. Two sets of outcome variables were selected for the analyses: oral health status (dental caries, oral cleanliness, and periodontal disease), and oral health-related behaviours (frequency of sugar intake, toothbrushing frequency, and pattern of dental attendance). Adolescents' SOC was associated with their caries experience in anterior teeth (OR=0.81 for 10 units increase in SOC scale; 95% CI=0.66-0.98), but the relationship did not remain significant after controlling for other factors. Adolescents with higher SOC were less likely to visit the dentist mainly when in trouble, compared with those with lower SOC (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.71-0.98), or equivalently more likely to visit for mainly check-ups. Other measures of oral health status and behaviours were not significantly associated with SOC. SOC was identified as a psychosocial determinant of adolescents' oral health-related behaviour, particularly affecting their pattern of dental attendance.

The retirement transition and the later life family unit.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine to what extent family worldview and problem-solving communication style influence individual and family unit adaptation during retirement. A cross-sectional correlational survey design utilized Pearson correlations and stepwise multiple regressions. The sample consisted of 368 individuals representing 184 later life family units. Operationalized as family unit data, family worldview and family problem-solving communication style were examined in two series: (1) with outcome variable of family unit adaptation and (2) with outcome variable of individual adaptation. Scoring of family unit data was conceptually, procedurally, and analytically congruent. The investigation extended McCubbins' work into the later life family unit giving empirical support for two propositions of the Resiliency Model (M.A. McCubbin & H.I. McCubbin, 1993). This investigation also extended A. Antonovsky's (1987) work as the second study to apply the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale to a family measurement. Conclusions are that although the way the family views the world is important during retirement, being affirmed by family members is more important. The investigation highlights the importance of a positive problem-solving communication style for a positive level of family adaptation. Individual adaptation during retirement was more influenced by family worldview.