Sense of coherence predicts change in life satisfaction among home-living residents in the community with mental health problems: a 1-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
There is a call for a further investigation of Sense of Coherence (SOC), the central concept in salutogenesis, and its relation to health and life satisfaction. No previous studies have investigated the utility of SOC versus mental symptoms for the prediction of life satisfaction among people with chronic mental health problems (MHP).


METHODS
The present study has a prospective design including a baseline assessment and a 1-year follow up. We recruited 107 adults from the community health care system. SOC was measured by the Sense of Coherence questionnaire, mental symptoms by the Symptom Checklist-90 revised and life satisfaction by The Quality of Life Scale (all Norwegian versions).


RESULTS
The results show that while SOC predicts change in life satisfaction (standardized beta coefficient for SOC was 0.39, P = 0.014), mental symptoms did not (standardized beta coefficient 0.00, P = 1.0).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings emphasize the importance of assessing factors that may explain differences in life satisfaction over and above mental symptoms among people with MHP. The results indicate that improving SOC among people with MHP might provide important opportunities for improving their life satisfaction.
Langeland
Eva
E
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bergen University College, Haugeveien 28, 5005 Bergen, Norway. eva.langeland@hib.no
Wahl
Astrid K
AK
Kristoffersen
Kjell
K
Nortvedt
Monica W
MW
Hanestad
Berit R
BR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014504:Urban Health