Family Sense Of Coherence Research Articles

Relationships Between Family Sense of Coherence, Coping and Role Performance in Parents of Children with Disabilities: Structural Equation Modeling.

This descriptive study was designed with a clear focus: to use structural equation modeling to determine the intricate relationships between family sense of coherence, coping, and role performance in parents of children with disabilities. The study was conducted with a sample of 185 parents of children receiving special education at the primary school level in a province in Türkiye. Data was collected using a parent introduction form, the Family Sense of Coherence Scale-short form (FSOC-S), the Family Role Performance (FRP) scale, and the Revised-COPE Scale (R-COPE). The effect of FSOC-S on FRP and R-COPE was statistically significant. The effect of FRP on R-COPE was statistically significant. Moreover, FSOC-S predicted 22.4% of FRP, while FSOC-S and FRP predicted 17.1% of R-COPE. The study's findings underscore the urgent need for interventions to improve the family's sense of coherence and positive coping attitudes. These interventions are crucial for parents to effectively manage the challenges they face while caring for a child with a disability. The study also highlights the significant role of positive coping attitudes and family sense of coherence in enhancing role performance in parents of children with disabilities.

Risk Perception and Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in China: Role of Negative Emotions and Family Sense of Coherence.

Prenatal depression is associated with adverse health outcomes for both mothers and their children. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has presented new risks and challenges for expectant mothers. The aims of the study were to investigate the underlying mechanism between COVID-19 risk perception of Chinese pregnant women and their prenatal depressive symptoms and potential protective factors such as family sense of coherence (FSOC). A total of 181 Chinese pregnant women (Mage = 31.40 years, SD = 3.67, ranged from 23 to 43) participated in an online survey from April 22 to May 16, 2020. Risk perception and negative emotions (fear and anxiety) related with COVID-19, FSOC, and prenatal depressive symptoms were assessed. The experience of maternal COVID-19 related negative emotion fully mediated the positive relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and prenatal depressive symptoms of pregnant women (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.06, 0.19]). When confronting COVID-19 related fear and anxiety, expectant mothers from higher coherent families experienced a significantly lower level of prenatal depressive symptoms. Contextual negative emotional experience was demonstrated to explain how risk perception impacts depressive symptoms during severe public health crisis for pregnant women. FSOC may be a psychological resource protecting pregnant women from experiencing adverse psychological outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic.

A chain mediation model reveals the association between family sense of coherence and quality of life in caregivers of advanced cancer patients

Caregivers of advanced cancer patients face challenges impacting their quality of life (QoL). While evidence suggests that family sense of coherence (FSOC) can enhance individual psychological well-being and reduce distress symptoms, the precise mechanism through which FSOC improves caregivers' QoL remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationships among FSOC, psychological resilience, psychological distress, and QoL in primary caregivers of advanced cancer patients. A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken from June 2020 to March 2021 across five tertiary hospitals in China. Instruments included a general characteristic questionnaire, the Family Sense of Coherence Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the 8-item SF-8 health survey. Pearson’s correlation and chain mediation analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (version 21) and PROCESS macro (version 3.4). Out of 290 valid questionnaires, results demonstrated that FSOC directly and positively influences caregivers' QoL. Psychological distress partially mediated the FSOC-QoL association, with paths "FSOC-psychological distress-QoL" and "FSOC-psychological resilience-psychological distress-QoL" contributing 43.08% and 6.72% of the total effect, respectively. Furthermore, this study distinguished physical and mental aspects of QoL, confirming both conform to the chain mediation model. FSOC impacts caregivers' QoL directly and indirectly through the mediation of psychological distress and the chain mediation effect of "psychological resilience-psychological distress". These insights enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between FSOC and QoL, underscoring the potential benefits of bolstering FSOC to strengthen caregiver resilience, alleviate distress, and ultimately elevate their QoL.

Unraveling the Link Between Childhood Psychological Maltreatment and Mental Well-Being: The Serial Mediation Role of Family Belongingness, Family Coherence, and Loneliness

Childhood psychological maltreatment has a significant impact on family-related factors and adult mental health, emphasizing the importance of investigating its effects and developing appropriate interventions. Loneliness is also an important factor that needs further exploration in relation to these variables. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the relationship between these variables and to examine the role of family belongingness, family sense of coherence, and loneliness as chain mediators between childhood psychological maltreatment and adult mental well-being. Data from 369 participants residing in 46 different cities in Turkey were analyzed. The participants were selected to represent a diverse range of backgrounds and living conditions, predominantly female ( n = 282, 76.4%) and well educated ( n = 300, 81.3%). A structural mediation model was used to analyze the data. The variables of childhood psychological maltreatment, family belongingness, family sense of coherence, loneliness, and adult mental well-being were measured and examined for their relationships. The findings of the study indicated that family belongingness, family sense of coherence, and loneliness mediate the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and adult mental well-being. Childhood psychological maltreatment poses a risk to a positive family sense of coherence and family belongingness, while loneliness emerges as a significant factor affecting adult mental well-being. These findings highlight the importance of addressing childhood maltreatment and promoting family support and coherence to enhance mental well-being in adulthood. Further research and interventions in this area are warranted.

“The person was like the glue in the cracked pot which was no longer there”: co-production of the web-based Families and Friends in Bereavement intervention

Background Families, friends and support networks are key to managing bereavement. COVID-19 social restrictions prevented families and friends from being with the dying and participating in usual rituals to honour the dead. This resulted in social disconnection, feelings of guilt, and difficulty in making sense of the death and reconstructing relationships. In response to this context a theoretically informed, co-produced web-resource to facilitate meaning-making, which situates bereavement in the context of family and friends, was developed. This paper describes the development of the web-based intervention. Study aims To co-produce a web-based intervention theoretically informed by the family level extension Dual Process Model and Family Sense of Coherence, and pilot the intervention gaining user feedback to inform refinements in readiness for adoption and implementation. Methods Following a scoping review, a mixed methods study was undertaken using an online survey via questionnaire and virtual co-production workshop with bereaved people and bereavement professionals. Results Survey respondents (n=32) reported the pandemic negatively affected bereavement (guilt, isolation, inability to bear witness) but also presented new opportunities to celebrate the deceased and support the bereaved (new funeral rituals, technology, remote contact, social acknowledgement of grief). Sense-making and managing bereavement were helped through information-giving, support networks, and relocating the person within the family context. A web-resource to facilitate collective grief was viewed positively and endorsed. Key content including family activities to stimulate support, information regarding the range of grief experience and dealing with the practicalities, along with other sources of support was agreed by workshop participants (n=5) to form the basis of the intervention. Conclusion The publicly accessible Families and Friends in Bereavement intervention encourages consideration of bereavement in the context of close social networks. It enables grief to be understood and managed within a shared experience by promoting communication and meaning-making.

Sense of Coherence, Family Sense of Coherence and Psychological Distress: The Mediating Role of Self Satisfaction

Sense of Coherence, Family Sense of Coherence and Psychological Distress: The Mediating Role of Self Satisfaction

“The person was like the glue in the cracked pot which was no longer there”: Family-focused support for bereavement via co-production of a web-based intervention

Background: Families, friends and support networks are key to managing bereavement. COVID-19 social restrictions prevented families and friends from being with the dying and participating in usual rituals to honour the dead. This resulted in social disconnection, feelings of guilt, and difficulty in making sense of the death and reconstructing relationships. In response to this context a theoretically informed, co-produced web-resource to facilitate meaning-making, which situates bereavement in the context of family and friends, was developed. This paper describes the development of the web-based intervention. Study aims: To co-produce a web-based intervention theoretically informed by the family level extension Dual Process Model and Family Sense of Coherence, and pilot the intervention gaining user feedback to inform refinements in readiness for adoption and implementation. Methods: Following a scoping review, a mixed methods study was undertaken using an online survey via questionnaire and virtual co-production workshop with bereaved people and bereavement professionals. Results: Survey respondents reported the pandemic negatively affected bereavement (guilt, isolation, inability to bear witness) but also presented new opportunities to celebrate the deceased and support the bereaved (new funeral rituals, technology, remote contact, social acknowledgement of grief). Sense-making and managing bereavement were helped through information-giving, support networks, and relocating the person within the family context. A web-resource to facilitate collective grief was viewed positively and endorsed. Key content including family activities to stimulate support, information regarding the range of grief experience and dealing with the practicalities, along with other sources of support was agreed by workshop participants to form the basis of the intervention. Conclusion: The Families in Bereavement intervention encourages consideration of bereavement in the context of close social networks. It enables grief to be understood and managed within a shared experience by promoting communication and meaning-making.

Family resilience and its influencing factors among advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers: a multilevel modeling analysis

BackgroundCancer is highly prevalent worldwide. Family resilience is a positive variable that helps families burdened by advanced cancer to cope effectively. This study aimed to describe the family resilience of advanced cancer patients and caregivers in dyads and identify its influencing factors at the individual and dyadic levels.MethodsThis multisite cross-sectional study was conducted in oncology units in five tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 270 advanced cancer patient-caregiver dyads were recruited between June 2020 and March 2021. Patients’ and caregivers’ family resilience was measured by the Family Resilience Assessment Scale. Data on potential influencing factors, including demographic and disease-related characteristics as well as family sense of coherence, psychological resilience, perceived social support, symptom burden, and caregiver burden, were collected. Multilevel modeling analysis was adopted to control for the interdependence of the dyads.ResultsA total of 241 dyads were included in the data analysis. The mean ages of patients and caregivers were 53.96 (SD 15.37) and 45.18 (SD 13.79) years, respectively. Most caregivers were spouses and adult children (45.6% and 39.0%, respectively). Patients reported a higher mean family resilience score than caregivers (152.56 vs. 149.87, respectively). Undergoing fewer than two types of treatment and a lower symptom burden of patients predicted higher patient (B = -9.702, -0.134, respectively) and caregiver (B = -5.462, -0.096, respectively) family resilience. Patients also reported higher family resilience under the following conditions: 1) were on a medical insurance plan other than the new rural cooperative medical system (B = 6.089), 2) had a better family sense of coherence (B = 0.415), 3) whose caregivers were unmarried (B = 8.618), perceived lower social support (B = -0.145) and higher psychological resilience (B = 0.313). Caregivers who were ≤ 44 years old (B = -3.221), had similar previous caregiving experience (B = 7.706), and had a stronger family sense of coherence (B = 0.391) reported higher family resilience.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of adopting a dyadic approach when caring for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. Dyadic longitudinal research is suggested to discover more modifiable factors of family resilience and tailored interventions are needed to obtain optimal dyadic outcomes.

Heterogeneity of emotional distress in pregnancy during COVID-19 pandemic: a latent profile analysis

ABSTRACT Background Emotional distress, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, is a common concern among pregnant individuals and has negative impacts on maternal and offspring’s health. Previous studies indicated the heterogeneity of perinatal emotional distress. Moreover, during the pandemic of COVID-19, expectant mothers are faced with more tough challenges, which could exacerbate their emotional distress. Objective The aim of present study is to examine potential subgroups with distinct profiles on emotional distress and relationship resources during the pandemic. Methods A total of 187 pregnant people in China were recruited from April 22 to May 16 in 2020. Latent profile analysis was applied based on prenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms, COVID-19-related negative emotions, prenatal attachment, marital satisfaction and family sense of coherence. Results Four subgroups were identified. Group 1 and Group 2 shared with low levels of emotional distress and COVID-19-related negative emotions, among which Group 1 had plenty of relationship resources, while Group 2 had insufficient support. Group 3 had moderate levels of emotional distress but above-average prenatal attachment. Group 4 was a highly distressed subtype with severe emotional distress and poor states across all domains. Conclusion Our findings support that emotion distress among expecting mothers is heterogeneous, highlighting the need for tailed interventions to address the specific needs of subgroups during pregnancy.

Predictors of Parent-Infant Bonding Among Postpartum Chinese Mothers and Fathers.

The emotional bond that parents feel with their child is a crucial determinant of the child's psychosocial well-being and future development. Few studies have evaluated the predictive roles of depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and family sense of coherence in the quality of parent-infant bonding for both parents during the perinatal period. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive effects of depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and family sense of coherence during pregnancy; changes thereof from pregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum; and the partner's bond with the infant on the quality of parent-infant bonding at 6 weeks postpartum in Chinese mothers and fathers. This was a secondary analysis of data from an intervention study. A convenience sample of 231 Chinese childbearing couples was recruited from the antenatal clinics of public hospitals in Hong Kong. Parent-infant bonding, depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and family sense of coherence were measured using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Family Sense of Coherence Scale during pregnancy and at 6 weeks postpartum. The findings indicated that higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy and poor partner bonding with the infant were the major predictors of impaired parent-infant bonding at 6 weeks postpartum for both parents. Prenatal relationship satisfaction was not a significant predictor of parent-infant bonding at 6 weeks postpartum for either parent. Prenatal family sense of coherence was a strong predictor of parent-infant bonding for mothers but not for fathers. The findings highlight the significant effects of depressive symptoms, family sense of coherence, and the partner's bond with the infant on parent-infant bonding during the perinatal period. Comprehensive early prenatal programs that promote parental well-being and strengthen family sense of coherence should be integrated into existing perinatal services to promote the quality of parent-infant bonding for both parents.

Family Sense of Coherence Scale: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a Portuguese Sample.

Background: Family sense of coherence (FSOC) can be defined as the cognitive map of a family that enables the family to deal with stress during their lifetime. FSOC is the degree to which a family perceives family life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have used this scale, and very few have evaluated FSOC Scale psychometric properties.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the original FSOC Scale in a sample of Portuguese caregivers of children aged between 10 and 15 years.Methods: A total of 329 caregivers completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the FSOC Scale. Analyses were performed to evaluate the factor structure of the FSOC Scale with 26 items as well as composite reliability, internal consistency, convergent-related validity, and discriminant-related validity of the scale scores.Results: The findings supported a three-factor solution for a 13-item version that maintains the original FSOC Scale structure. The three FSOC dimensions presented a good fit to the data. Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, and convergent-related validity were considered very good for the FSOC Scale (α = 0.956; CR = 0.974; AVE = 0.689). No evidence of discriminant-related validity was found for the dimensions of FSOC.Conclusion: The findings support the use of the Portuguese FSOC Scale for research and clinical purposes with Portuguese caregivers. Future research is necessary to further develop a European Portuguese version of the FSOC Scale.Implications: This study provides a psychometric evaluation of FSOC Scale characteristics in a Portuguese sample. The results are helpful for clinicians and family therapists who work with families since it could help them to assess the resources of families and their ability to cope with adversity and enhance their strengths.

Exploring the role of social capital, self-efficacy and social contagion in shaping lifestyle and mental health among students representing the future healthcare workforce in Palestine: social cohort study protocol

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) and depression form an unhealthy mix. The project focuses on potentially effective psychosocial factors shaping health-related habits and mental health. The study is conducted among health domain...

The effect of pregnant Womens family sense of coherence on the fear of COVID-19

The effect of pregnant Womens family sense of coherence on the fear of COVID-19

Perception of family sense of coherence among Chinese couples with infertility.

To explore perceptions of family sense of coherence among infertile couples and to provide a theoretical interpretation of the comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness of couples' experiences coping with infertility. Infertility is a devastating experience for many couples and can have long-lasting psychosocial consequences. Family sense of coherence has the potential to facilitate a couple's adjustment to the life crisis of infertility and may provide a useful conceptual lens to understand experiences of infertility. Sixty-four couples with infertility participated in semi-structured interviews at subfertility clinics. Data were analysed using the constant comparative approach of grounded theory. COREQ guidelines were followed in reporting the study. Three major themes related to infertility emerged from the interviews: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. The couples experienced psychological strain while making cognitive sense of infertility. The significance of children, which is embedded in traditional Chinese culture, created a sense of meaning and purpose in couples' lives and motivated them to mobilise both internal and external resources to cope with the demands of infertility and its treatment. The findings indicate that the salutogenic model of family sense of coherence can contribute to our understanding of the experiences of infertility among Chinese couples. The results offer a theoretical framework that healthcare professionals can use to help couples cope with the life crisis of infertility by strengthening their sense of family coherence.

Relationships between infertility-related stress, family sense of coherence and quality of life of couples with infertility

This is a cross-sectional study with the objective to examine the relationships between infertility-related stress, family sense of coherence and quality of life of Chinese couples with infertility in Hong Kong. A convenience sample of 135 Chinese couples were recruited at the subfertility clinics of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong. Data were collected using the Fertility Problem Inventory, Family Sense of Coherence Scale and Fertility Quality of Life. Path analysis was used for data analysis. The results showed that infertility-related stress had a negative association with the quality of life of infertile couples and family sense of coherence mediated the effect of infertility-related stress on quality of life for both partners. The infertility-related stress of women had a negative association with their husbands’ quality of life. Infertile women had more infertility-related stress and a lower quality of life than their husbands. The findings provide new insights into the importance of family sense of coherence in facilitating couples’ adjustment to infertility. Culturally competent heath care interventions should be developed to strengthen family sense of coherence among Chinese couples with infertility and help them reduce their infertility-related stress, thus improving their quality of life.

The Factors Associated with the Attitudes of Nurses Working in Medical Facilities towards Family Nursing

The aim of this study was to clarify the attitudes of nurses working in medical facilities towards family nursing and the related factors. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. The study period was from December 2017 to February 2018. 638 nurses with more than 5 years clinical experience were recruited from seven medical facilities. The questionnaire included the Families’ Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses’ Attitudes (FINC-NA), the Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC), and items on nursing practice ability, job satisfaction, and background characteristics. A multiple regression analysis with FINC-NA as the dependent variable and a path analysis of nursing practice ability as the dependent variable were performed. Responses from 416 nurses (effective response rate, 65.2%) were analyzed. Variables that were significantly related to FINC-NA (p < 0.05) were nursing practice ability, FSOC, job satisfaction, family nursing learning experience, presence of a partner and experience in family nursing. Multiple regression analysis with FINC-NA as the dependent variable revealed significant regression coefficients for nursing practice ability, FSOC and job satisfaction. Moreover, path analysis with nursing practice ability as the dependent variable showed job satisfaction, FSOC, managerial experience, family nursing learning experience were significant. In addition, it was revealed that the direct effect of FSOC on FINC-NA to mediate nursing practice ability was higher than the indirect effect, but the direct effect of job satisfaction on FINC-NA was lower than the indirect effect. It was suggested that it is important that nurses recognize their own thoughts, behaviors and ways of coping with stress within their family, and establish a good work environment and strive to enhance their nursing practice ability.

The Effect of Self-efficacy and Depression on Sense of Family Coherence in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Primary Caregivers in Day Care Wards: Using the Method Actor-partner Interdependence Model

The Effect of Self-efficacy and Depression on Sense of Family Coherence in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Primary Caregivers in Day Care Wards: Using the Method Actor-partner Interdependence Model

La educación como fuente de estrés para las familias con menores con síndrome de Down

Las familias con hijos e hijas con síndrome de Down deben hacer frente a nuevos retos que no esperaban cuando se embarcaron en la aventura de la paternidad. Uno de esos retos se refiere al abordaje de la educación formal de estos menores. Los resultados de investigación nos muestran que estas familias tienen más vulnerabilidad al estrés cuando se inicia la etapa escolar de estos menores, así como menor sentido de coherencia familiar y menor satisfacción familiar. Se hace necesaria una importante transformación del sistema educativo para que este incluya a todo su alumnado ofreciéndole iguales oportunidades de aprendizaje.

The health promoting conversations intervention for families with a critically ill relative: A pilot study

BackgroundAfter intensive care unit treatment, patients often have prolonged impairments that affect their physical, cognitive and mental health. Family members can face overwhelming and emotionally challenging situations and their concerns and needs must be addressed. ObjectiveWe investigated the outcomes of pilot randomised control trial, a nurse-led family intervention, Health Promoting Conversations, which focused on family functioning and wellbeing in families with a critically ill member. Study designThis randomised controlled pilot study used a pre-test, post-test design with intervention and control groups to investigate the outcomes of the nurse-led intervention in 17 families. Outcome measuresThe Health Promoting Conversations intervention was evaluated using validated instruments that measure family functioning and family wellbeing: the General Functioning sub-scale from the McMaster Family Assessment Device; the Family Sense of Coherence, the Herth Hope Index, and the Medical Outcome Short-Form Health Survey. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used to analyse the data. ResultsAfter 12 months, the intervention group reported better family functioning than the control group. The intervention group also had better social functioning and mental health after 12 months. ConclusionThis intervention may improve family wellbeing by improving family function, reducing stress, and promoting better mental health.

Resilience in Palestinian adolescents living in Gaza.

There were 335 Palestinian adolescents (n = 335) enrolled in 11th and 12th grades in secondary schools in Gaza refugee camps completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and self-report measures assessing coping skills, self-regulation, optimism, parenting style, family sense of coherence, national identity, ethnic identity, and other demographic variables. Participants with stronger national identity, stronger family sense of coherence, greater self-regulation, and more optimism reported less depressive and anxious symptoms. In a logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of resilience (minimal to no anxiety and depression, n = 135) were age, optimism, family sense of coherence, ethnic identity, self-regulation, and coping skills. These findings indicate that older age, optimism, perception of family seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, stronger Arab ethnic identity, greater self-regulation and stronger coping skills promote adolescent adaptation and health. Salutogenesis frames information about how resilient youth living in high threat environments may respond to preventative community-based behavioral health interventions as well as treatment of depression, anxiety, and other psychological distress among adolescents living with ongoing violence. (PsycINFO Database Record