title: Alcohol problems and sense of coherence among older adults.
abstract: The relation between alcohol problems and sense of coherence (SOC), a salutogenic model developed by Antonovsky, was assessed on a sample of 952 older members of a health maintenance organization. Data on alcohol problems (5-item index) and SOC (9-item scale) were obtained from mailed questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses indicated that SOC was a significant negative predictor of alcohol problems while controlling for alcohol consumption level, frequency of drunkenness and demographic characteristics. In addition, SOC scores were significantly higher for a subsample of lighter drinkers who reported no alcohol problems in the last year and had not been drunk in the last year (n = 419) as compared to heavier drinkers who reported at least one alcohol problem in the last year, and reported being drunk at least once in the last year (n = 107). These findings emphasize the importance of assessing factors which contribute to healthier behaviors as opposed to focusing exclusively on predictors of pathogenic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Midanik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soghikian
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ransom
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Polen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012737:Sex Factors