Lower Sense Of Coherence Scores Research Articles

Association Between Sense of Coherence and Tobacco Use Among Brazilian Adolescent Students

Background: Investigating tobacco use and associated factors is essential to set priorities and health promotion strategies among adolescents. Several studies examined the relationship between this behavior and the psychosocial salutogenic construct Sense of Coherence (SOC), but the evidence is limited to adolescents in high-income countries. This study aimed to analyze the association between tobacco use and SOC among Brazilian adolescent students. Methods: A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted in 2018. Dependent variables were categorical binary (Yes/No): (1) Smoking experimentation (at least one puff in a lifetime); (2) Current smoking (at least one cigarette smoked in the last 30 days); (3) Daily cigarette smoking; and (4) Experimentation with hookah and/or other tobacco products (at least once in a lifetime). Independent variable SOC was assessed with the SOC-13 item scale. Independent-samples t-Test and Logistic regression were used in the statistical analyses. Potential confounders were identified using a Directed Acyclic Graph. Results: Participants were 3034 adolescents aged 13–19. The mean SOC scores were higher among adolescents who answered no to each of the dependent variables than among those who answered yes (p < .05). In the regression analysis, those with higher SOC scores were less likely to report smoking experimentation, current use, daily use, and experimentation with hookah and/or other tobacco products, than those with lower SOC scores. The associations remained after controlling for sociodemographic and/or social-environmental factors. Conclusion: An inverse relationship between SOC and tobacco use was observed among Brazilian adolescent students.

Sense of coherence and coping behaviours in persons with late effects of polio

Sense of coherence (SOC), comprising "comprehensibility", "manageability" and "meaningfulness", is important for successful adaptation in persons with late effects of polio (LEoP) and can be used as an estimate of the ability to cope with stressors. Coping behaviours are the actions a person performs to reduce stress and can be divided into problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and less useful coping. Our knowledge is very limited of what coping behaviours persons with LEoP use to manage their life situation as well as the association between SOC and coping behaviours. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess coping behaviours and to explore the association between SOC and coping behaviours in persons with LEoP. In total, 93 ambulant persons (52% women, mean [SD] age 74 [8] years) with clinically and electromyographically verified LEoP responded to a postal survey with the Sense of Coherence Scale 13 items (SOC-13) and the Brief Cope Scale. Three linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between SOC and problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and less useful coping, controlling for age and sex. The most-used coping behaviours belonged to the categories problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. We found a significant negative association between SOC and less useful coping; less useful coping explained 34% of the variance of SOC (adj R2=0.34, p<0.001), whereas age and sex were not significant in the analyses. Persons with LEoP primarily use problem-focused and emotion-focused coping behaviours, which suggests that generally they have adapted well to their disability. Regardless of age and sex, persons with lower SOC scores use less useful coping behaviours, which suggests that they are not as well adapted. These results can facilitate the development of rehabilitation interventions that help persons with LEoP adapt to their situation with a life-long disability.

Factors Affecting the Sense of Coherence (SOC) for Long-term Evacuees after a Large-Scale Disaster in Japan

Disasters has been occurring frequently all over the world, and an increasing number of people have been forced to continue their evacuation life for a long time. In the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, some people are still unable to return to their homes due to radioactive contamination and are forced to live as evacuees for long periods of time. It is considered a serious public health issue to keep mentality healthy under the stress of living after the disaster. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the factors that affect the sense of coherence (SOC), which is considered as the ability to cope with stress and maintain health, in residents who continue to live as evacuees after a large-scale disaster. The method was a self-administered questionnaire survey of 1,602 long-term evacuees in Japan. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted with the high and low SOC score groups as dependent variables in order to identify factors that predicted high and low SOC. The results showed that the SOC tended to decrease in the elderly and those with deteriorating mental health. On the other hand, those who were active in education and hobbies, and those who socialized with their neighbors and friends tended to have the higher SOC. In order to support residents who have been forced to continue living as evacuees for a long period of time, it is important to provide them with psychological and emotional support to prevent them from being emotionally overwhelmed, as well as living environment improvement and economic support. It was suggested that the promotion of resident-led activities that lead to mental relaxation and the introduction of stress reduction methods that can be easily adopted by residents are effective in maintaining mental health.

Sense of Coherence in Managers during COVID-19 and the New World of Work: A Mixed-Method Study.

During COVID-19, the working world has changed inevitably, and many managers experience extreme strain and stress. This study determines how managers cope with the changes during COVID-19 from a positive psychology and salutogenic perspective. It employs a hermeneutical research design and an interpretivist paradigm by using a mixed-method research approach in which managers’ sense of coherence (SOC) is investigated quantitatively through the 29-item Life-Orientation scale and qualitatively through semi-structured interviews. Purposeful and snowball sampling techniques are used. The sample consists of 17 managers. Data were collected in different organizations within South Africa and analysed through content analysis, linking quantitative and qualitative data in a holistic, integrated and complex way. In terms of the quantitative findings, the managers scored at the medium and higher end of the SOC-scale in comprehensibility, followed by manageability and finally meaningfulness. Male managers in the age group 47–57 scored highest. Female and younger managers scored lower on average. Lowest scores in comprehensibility and manageability were scored by a young female manager, while in meaningfulness the oldest male participant scored lowest. The qualitative findings show that high scoring SOC managers apply complex thoughts to the present and future workplace scenario. Individuals with lower SOC scores do not present as much knowledge, complex thinking and argumentation structures during the interview in comprehensibility scores as high scoring SOC managers, yet still acquire resources to manage the workplace (manageability). High meaningfulness scores are associated with creating meaningful workplace interaction (human–human and machine–human), knowledge distribution through technology, impactfulness, experiencing the job as meaningful, including helping others, and achievements. Managers have a complex view of the world and findings show the complex connections of a high/low SOC scores and the managers’ explorations and systemic understanding regarding their managerial world. Conclusions and recommendations for theory and practice are given.

Mother's sense of coherence and dental characteristics in children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta: A paired study.

The relevance of sense of coherence (SOC) is important to the wellbeing of parents, especially mothers of children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Determine whether the oral health status of children/adolescents with OI is associated with mother's SOC. A paired cross-sectional study was conducted with 37 children/adolescents with OI, 37 without OI, and their respective mothers. The children/adolescents were between two and 19 years of age, mean age 7.2 years, being 47 male and 27 female. The mothers completed Antonovsky's SOC questionnaire (SOC-13), and the oral status of the children/adolescents was investigated. The following clinical conditions were evaluated: dentinogenesis imperfecta, malocclusion, gingivitis, and dental caries experience. The genetic condition of the children was significantly associated with mother's SOC (P<.001). Mothers of children with OI had lower SOC scores (mean: 35.6 [± 4.9]) than mothers of children without OI (mean: 38.5 [± 4.3]). In the group with OI, a low socioeconomic status was associated with lower mother's SOC scores (P=.004). In both groups, dental caries experience was associated with lower mother's SOC scores (P=.007). Most individuals with OI presented malocclusion (78.3%) and experience of dental caries (59.4%). Having a child with OI influenced the sense of coherence of the mothers. Socioeconomic status and dental caries experience in children and adolescents with OI were associated with mother's SOC.

A New Tool in the Development of Celiac Disease: Sense of Coherence Score

Introduction: Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a theoretical construct that was developed to explain why some people become ill and others do not, regardless of stressful events. Low SOC was reported to correlate with the development of several multifactorial, chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and systemic lupus erythematosus. Aims: To compare the SOC scores of patients diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) and matched healthy controls to investigate possible correlations between low SOC scores and CD. Patients and Methods: Patients provided demographic data and completed the 13-item SOC questionnaire. Patients in the study cohort were matched to healthy controls according to age, gender, education, income, employment status and marital status. Results: A total of 239 CD patients and 124 healthy controls answered the SOC questionnaire. Among them,124 patients were matched to the healthy cohort according to propensity score. CD patients had a median SOC score of 57 (IQR 52.25-62), and controls 65.5 (IQR 57-75) pConclusions: SOC reflects a person's resources and orientation which enable individuals to cope with stressors in a way that promotes health. Lower SOC score is correlated with the development of CD.

Association of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with chronic stress in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Chronic stress is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation are potential mediators of this risk. This study was conducted to investigate the association of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with chronic stress and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Oxidative stress/antioxidant status (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduce glutathione [GSH], glutathione reductase [GR], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD]), inflammatory markers (highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hsCRP], adiponectin, leptin), chronic stress levels as assessed by stress scales-presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES), perceived stress scale (PSS), sense of coherence (SOC) and stress biomarker-salivary cortisol in 125 subjects with newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM) were compared with an equal number of age and sex matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). NDDM subjects as compared with NGT had significantly increased MDA (P<0.001), hsCRP (P<0.001), and leptin (P=0.014) levels and increased GR (P=0.043) and SOD (P<0.001) activity along with decreased GSH (P<0.001) and adiponectin (P<0.001) levels. They also had significantly higher PSLES-LT and PSS and lower SOC scores along with elevated levels of 10:00pm salivary cortisol and post dexamethasone salivary cortisol as compared with NGT. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, variables GSH (OR: 0.805), SOD (OR: 1.004), and adiponectin (OR: 0.771) along with PSLES-LT (OR: 1.007), PSS (OR: 1.147), SOC (OR: 0.667), salivary cortisol 10:00pm (OR: 1.382), WC (OR: 1.087), and HOMA-IR (OR: 2.721) emerged as significant predictors of NDDM. The findings of this study indicate that chronic psychological stress and stress responses are associated significantly with inflammation and oxidative stress, which could act as mediating stress related risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Sense of coherence in people with and without inflammatory bowel diseases - is there a difference?

Sense of coherence (SOC) is a theoretical concept reflecting a person's resources and orientation, which enable individuals to cope with stressors in a health-promoting manner. In several multifactorial chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and systemic lupus erythematosus, SOC was correlated with disease development. It was also related with the emotional distress in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between low SOC scores and the presence of IBD. A total of 183 Crohn's disease (CD) and 71 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients completed questionnaires including demographic data and the 13 items for the SOC questionnaire. The IBD patients were matched to 124 healthy people according to age, gender, education, employment status and marital status. In the CD cohort, 96 patients were matched to the healthy cohort according to the propensity score value, and in the UC cohort 57 were matched. Patients with Crohns' disease had a median SOC score of 63 (IQR 56-71), and healthy matching controls of 62.5 (IQR 55.25- 68.75) p=0.369. Patients with ulcerative patients had a median SOC score of 66 (IQR 56-73) and healthy controls 62 (IQR 55-69) p=0.354. In our study SOC was not related to the development of IBD. The question of whether SOC is associated with the development of chronic disease and particularly with IBD remains open.

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.

A cohort study on self-reported role stressors at work and poor sleep: does sense of coherence moderate or mediate the associations?

The aim of the present study was to examine the bidirectional associations between subjective role ambiguity and role conflicts at work, respectively, and self-reported sleep 2years later. In addition, we also examine whether sense of coherence (SOC) moderate or mediate the association between role stressors and poor sleep and between poor sleep and role stressors. We used questionnaire data collected in 2006 and 2008 from the Workplace Bullying and Harassment cohort. In 2006, 3363 responded to the questionnaire and in 2008 1671 responded. In total, 1569 participants responded in both 2006 and 2008 to the questions on role stressors (in terms of role ambiguity and role conflicts at work) and sleep problems in both 2006 and 2008. Sleep problems were assessed with the awakening index (AWI) and the disturbed sleep index (DSI). Moderation and mediation analyses of the association were estimated using structural equation modelling. We found a prospective association between role stressors and sleep problems [beta values were 0.07 (95% CI 0.03-0.11) and 0.05 (CI 0.01-0.10) for DSI and AWI, respectively] when adjusting for sleep problems at baseline, age, sex, and life style factors (i.e. alcohol, smoking, and leisure time physical activity). SOC moderated the association showing that participants with lower SOC scores who reported higher role ambiguity reported sleep problems to a higher extent than participants with high SOC scores. SOC also mediated the association between role stressors and sleep problems. We also found support for sleep problems at baseline and role stressors 2years later [DSI 0.04 (CI 0.00-0.08) and 0.15 (CI 0.09-0.21)] for role ambiguity and role conflicts, respectively. Similar results were observed for AWI. Subjective role stressors were prospectively associated with sleep problems. Yet, sleep problems could also prospectively predict subjective role stressors (i.e. reverse causation). The analyses also showed that SOC may be regarded as both a mediating and a moderating factor of the association between subjective role conflicts and poor sleep. We found that SOC moderated the prospective association so participants with low SOC report more sleep problems with subjective role conflicts compared to participants with high SOC. Finally, we also found SOC mediated the prospective association between subjective role stressors and sleep problems and the reverse association.

Oral health of children and adolescents with mucopolysaccharidosis and mother's Sense of Coherence.

The purpose of this study is assess the association between mother's Sense of Coherence (SOC) and the oral health status of children with and without mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). A cross-sectional study was carried out with 29 children/adolescents with MPS and 29 children/adolescents without MPS, and their mothers in Brazil. Mothers completed the Antonovsky's SOC instrument (SOC-13) and their children's oral cavity had been examined for developmental defects of enamel (DDE), occlusal problems, dental caries (DMFT/dmft) and oral hygiene. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Mothers of children with MPS had lower SOC scores (mean: 33.3 [±4.0]) compared with mothers of children without MPS (mean: 36.9 [±4.5]) (p < 0.001). Mother's SOC of children with MPS were lower for those children with one or more decayed teeth (31.5 [±3.2]) than for those children/adolescents without caries (35.7 [±3.8]) (p = 0.004) and lower for those children/adolescents with one or more missing teeth (30.2 [±0.9]) than for those individuals identified without missing teeth (33.8 [±4.1]) (p = 0.046). Mothers' SOC of children/adolescents with MPS was associated with dental caries experience in their children. Improving mothers' SOC should contribute to a better quality of life for their children.

Sense of Coherence among Older Adult Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BackgroundGrowing evidence shows that sense of coherence (SOC) is related to health promotion. Knowledge of SOC among older adults in Taiwan is limited. The present study aimed to investigate SOC status and its relationship to personal and environmental factors among older adult residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in northeastern Taiwan.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed in Yilan, Taiwan. With face-to-face interviews, we obtained data from 104 LTCF residents (aged 65 years and older) using the Chinese version of Antonovsky's short 13-item SOC scale. We also collected the information on personal characteristics, physical and social environmental resources. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze factors potentially influencing SOC.ResultsOf the participants, the mean score (±standard deviation) of SOC was 58.3 (±8.8), while scores on SOC subscales (comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) were 23.4 ±4.5, 17.9 ±3.8, and 17.0 ±3.2, respectively. Education level, activities of daily living and number of LTCF staff were found to be independently associated with SOC status after adjusting for demographic characteristics, health status, and environmental resources. In addition, interactions between personal and environmental factors had a crucial influence on SOC status.ConclusionsParticipants in this study had relatively low SOC scores compared to their counterparts in Western countries. In addition to personal factors, environmental factors can play a significant role in SOC status among older adult LTCF residents. Comprehensive evaluation of SOC status should consider person-environment interaction effects.

Empirical relations between sense of coherence and self-efficacy, National Danish Survey.

Salutogenic orientation is a health promotion paradigm focusing on the resources of the individual. This study analyzed the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and self-efficacy (SE) based on population data. By conducting an empirical analysis of the two models, we wanted to see whether we could make a valid judgement as to whether both SOC and SE could be utilized in health promotion practice, or whether one is preferable to the other. The study population was randomly selected from the Danish Central Population Register and consisted of five birth-year cohorts (1920, 1930, 1940, 1965 and 1975). The study used the 13-item SOC scale and the general SE scale. The main findings were that SOC score increased by age cohort (p = 0.0004), and there is a positive and graded correlation between SOC and SE (r = 0.39; p < 0.0001) and adjusted OR = 10.3 (CI = 6.7-15.4). We found the strongest association at the lowest level of SOC. For health promotion practice, this finding signifies the importance of focusing on improving SOC in people with a low SOC score, as they are most in need and most likely to increase their SOC level. The finding of higher SOC scores in the older age cohorts indicates that SOC changes over lifetime. Public health work focusing on lifestyle change by increasing SOC can be effective throughout life, however early intervention is important. The finding of a positive correlation between SOC and SE indicates that health promotion altering one of the constructs is paralleled in the other.

Health in elite sports from a salutogenetic perspective: athletes' sense of coherence.

ObjectiveConsidering the high number of stressors encountered in the context of elite sports, a high sense of coherence (SOC) is crucial to allow athletes to maintain their health from both short- and long-term perspectives. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate SOC in a population of elite athletes, focusing on identification of subsets of athletes with particularly high and low SOC scores, and any related predictors. The elite athletes' SOC scores were also evaluated for differences with those of the general population of Germany; whether a correlation between SOC and subjective health existed was additionally examined.MethodIn total, 698 male and female elite athletes, drawn from Germany's highest-level national track and field squads, and first and second division handball teams, completed a survey that included the SOC-L9 Scale and measures of subjective health, sociodemographic information, and the number of injury lay-offs experienced during the athletes' careers to date.ResultsClassification tree analysis reveals six contrast groups with varying SOC scores. Several interacting factors determine the group to which an athlete belongs. Together with overuse injuries, additional factors are age, gender, and completed/not completed apprenticeship/degree. Female athletes aged between 19 and 25, who had already been subject to lay-offs due to overuse injuries, comprise the group with the lowest SOC scores. Overall, the SOC of elite athletes is slightly lower than in the general population. In accordance with other studies, a stronger SOC is also correlated significantly with better global subjective health.ConclusionThe identification of contrast groups with varying SOC scores contributes to the development of more targeted salutogenetic health promotion programs. Such programs would ideally include learning modules pertaining to coping with overuse injuries, as well as social support systems aiming to effectively combine education and elite sport.

Self-reported cold sensitivity in patients with traumatic hand injuries or hand-arm vibration syndrome - an eight year follow up

BackgroundCold sensitivity is a common complaint following hand injuries. Our aim was to investigate long-term self-reported cold sensitivity, and its predictors and the importance of sense of coherence (SOC), 8 years after a hand injury as well as in patients treated for Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) during the same time period.MethodsResponses to the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) questionnaire were investigated in hand injured patients (n = 64) and in patients with HAVS (n = 26). The Mann–Whitney U-Test was used to identify significant differences between subgroups. When analysing predictors for cold sensitivity severity, the Spearman rank correlation (rS coefficient) were used for quantitative predictive variables, Mann–Whitney U-Test for dichotomous variables and Kruskal-Wallis Test for multiple categorical data. The Wilcoxon´s signed rank test was used to investigate longitudinal changes in outcome.ResultsThere was a significant change in total CISS score for patients with traumatic hand injury, indicating fewer problems with cold sensitivity over time. Symptoms, such as stiffness, weakness and skin colour change on cold exposure, caused fewer problems, but perceived pain/aching and numbness remained unchanged as well as time needed for relief of symptoms on return to a warm environment. The negative impact of cold sensitivity on daily activities and at work was reduced, but problems when engaged in hobbies or when being exposed to cold wintry weather remained unchanged. None of the investigated predictors related to the hand injury were significantly associated with a change in cold sensitivity at the 8-year follow up. In contrast, no significant change in cold sensitivity was noted in the patients with HAVS for any of the situations included in the CISS questionnaire. A lower sense of coherence score correlated significantly with worse cold sensitivity (CISS score) in both patient groups.ConclusionsThe negative impact of cold sensitivity on daily life was reduced for patients with traumatic hand injury, but did not change over time in patients with HAVS. A low SOC is associated with worse cold sensitivity in such groups of patients. Information about relieving strategies should be provided for patients with cold sensitivity.

Sense of coherence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background and Aim. Sense of coherence (SOC) is a health-promoting concept reflecting a person's view of life and response to stressful situations and may be of importance in coping with chronic illness. The aim of this study was to explore associations between SOC and sociodemographic, disease-related, and personal characteristics in a sample of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods. Measures included sociodemographic and disease-related data, the Sense of Coherence Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-5). Results. In total, 428 IBD patients had evaluable questionnaires (response rate 93%). The overall mean SOC total score was 66.25 (SD 11.47) and with no statistically significant difference between patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and patients with Crohn's disease (CD). In the multivariate analyses, higher GSE scores were significantly associated with higher SOC scores and higher FSS-5 scores were significantly associated with lower SOC scores in both UC and CD. Conclusion. GSE and FSS-5 contributed more to the variance in SOC than sociodemographic and disease-related variables. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the value of SOC as a predictor of disability, medication adherence, coping behavior, and health-related quality of life.

Rising diabetes prevalence among urban-dwelling black South Africans.

ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of and the association of psychosocial risk factors with diabetes in 25–74-year-old black Africans in Cape Town in 2008/09 and to compare the prevalence with a 1990 study.Research Design and MethodsA randomly selected cross-sectional sample had oral glucose tolerance tests. The prevalence of diabetes (1998 WHO criteria), other cardiovascular risk factors and psychosocial measures, including sense of coherence (SOC), locus of control and adverse life events, were determined. The comparison of diabetes prevalence between this and a 1990 study used the 1985 WHO diabetes criteria.ResultsThere were 1099 participants, 392 men and 707 women (response rate 86%). The age-standardised (SEGI) prevalence of diabetes was 13.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.0–15.1), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) 11.2% (9.2–13.1) and impaired fasting glycaemia 1.2% (0.6–1.9). Diabetes prevalence peaked in 65–74-year-olds (38.6%). Among diabetic participants, 57.9% were known and 38.6% treated. Using 1985 WHO criteria, age-standardised diabetes prevalence was higher by 53% in 2008/09 (12.2% (10.2–14.2)) compared to 1990 (8.0% (5.8–10.3)) and IGT by 67% (2008/09: 11.7% (9.8–13.7); 1990: 7.0% (4.9–9.1)). In women, older age (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.03–1.08, p<0.001), diabetes family history (OR: 3.13, 95%CI: 1.92–5.12, p<0.001), higher BMI (OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.20–1.82, p = 0.001), better quality housing (OR: 2.08, 95%CI: 1.01–3.04, p = 0.047) and a lower SOC score (≤40) was positively associated with diabetes (OR: 2.57, 95%CI: 1.37–4.80, p = 0.003). Diabetes was not associated with the other psychosocial measures in women or with any psychosocial measure in men. Only older age (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.02–1.08, p = 0.002) and higher BMI (OR: 1.10, 95%CI: 1.04–1.18, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with diabetes in men.ConclusionsThe current high prevalence of diabetes in urban-dwelling South Africans, and the likelihood of further rises given the high rates of IGT and obesity, is concerning. Multi-facetted diabetes prevention strategies are essential to address this burden.

Vulnerabilities to depression and sense of coherence among Bedouin Arab and Jewish students: A test of a mediation model

This study examined cultural differences in self critical and dependent vulnerabilities to depression and sense of coherence as predictors of depression among Bedouin Arab and Jewish university students in Israel. In addition, this study explored the role of sense of coherence on the self-criticism-depression association and the dependency-depression association. 120 Bedouin Arab and 130 Jewish university students completed the depressive experiences questionnaire (DEQ), the center for epidemiological studies depression scale (CES-D), sense of coherence scale (SOC), and a questionnaire on demographic variables. Bedouin Arab students presented higher level of self-criticism and depression, as well as lower sense of coherence scores. There were no differences in the dependency scores. Sense of coherence partially mediated the association between self-criticism and depression within both groups of students. These results suggest that different cultural contexts associate with different levels of vulnerability to depression and resilience. However, the general mechanisms involved in the formation of depressive states seem to be similar across cultures. Key words: Self-criticism, dependency, sense of coherence, Bedouin Arab, collectivism, individualism.

Sense of coherence (SOC) related to health and mortality among the very old: The Umeå 85+ study

We describe associations between sense of coherence (SOC) and sense of well-being, diseases, physical function and the predictive value of SOC on depression and mortality. The study included 190 participants, aged 85–103 years. Linear correlation analysis was used for relationships between SOC scores and continuous variables. The effects of SOC score on 1- and 4-year mortality, as well as on depression at the 5-year follow-up, were investigated using Cox regression models. The mean SOC score was 71.8 ± 10.2 (±S.D.). SOC score was positively related to well-being ( p ≤ 0.001). Heart failure ( p = 0.009), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( p = 0.015), depression ( p = 0.015), and osteoarthritis ( p = 0.032) were significantly associated with low SOC scores, as were high scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) ( p = 0.002). One-year mortality was significantly associated with the SOC score (OR = 0.945, confidence interval (CI) = 0.898–0.995, p = 0.032), while the 4-year mortality was not (OR = 0.995, CI = 0.973–1.018, p = 0.674). The SOC score did not predict depression at 5-year follow-up (OR = 0.977, CI = 0.937–1.018, p = 0.267). Strong SOC was associated with well-being in this group of old people. Low SOC was found among those with diseases known to have a negative influence on daily life.

Low serum secretory immunoglobulin A level and sense of coherence score at an early gestational stage as indicators for subsequent threatened premature birth.

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the candidate indicators secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and sense of coherence (SOC) as predictors of threatened premature birth. This was a panel study conducted on women in their first and latter half of pregnancy during survey period. The survey period was from December 2005 to June 2006 and from December 2007 to June 2008. The women enrolled in the study were asked to complete the survey questionnaire and provide blood samples for the determinations of physiological indicators. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to the stress perception scale (SPS), SOC score as an indicator of modifiers of stress, demographic data, complications in a previous pregnancy, and the course of the current pregnancy. We used s-IgA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a physiological stress indicator and a marker of infection, respectively. Seventy-two eligible subjects were included in the analysis. Twenty-eight (38.9%) subjects had undergone treatment for threatened premature birth, and 44 (61.1%) subjects had not. In the logistic analysis, we set the course of pregnancy as a dependent variable, and age, birth history, smoking habits, a history of miscarriage, premature birth or threatened premature birth, SPS, SOC, and s-IgA in the first half of pregnancy as independent variables. We found that low serum s-IgA levels and low SOC scores in the first half of pregnancy were associated with threatened premature birth. Our results suggest that low serum s-IgA level and SOC score at an early gestational stage are significant indicators for a threatened premature birth.