A sense of coherence and health. Salutogenesis in a societal context: Aland, a special case?
BACKGROUND
Antonovsky's salutogenic concept of a sense of coherence (SOC) has proved most influential in the way that health is now perceived.


OBJECTIVE
To (1) describe the distribution of SOC among 40-70-year-old Alanders; (2) examine the distribution of depression in Aland, Finland, and its relationship with SOC; and (3) discuss the findings within a salutogenic framework in a societal context.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Antonovsky's SOC Questionnaire (13 items) and the Beck Depression Inventory (13 items) were used. In addition, in a separate questionnaire, sociodemographic information about each participant was sought, together with a question specific to this study and designed to measure self-rated health.


METHODS
Aland, an autonomous island province of Finland.


RESULTS
The proportion of respondents reporting good health was high (64%). The overall mean (SD) SOC was 70.7 (11.7) points, whereas for farmers and fishermen it was 73.88 (8.8) and 74.33 (9.2) points, respectively. SOC was significantly and strongly related to the self-rated health score. The higher the SOC, the better was the health of the respondents. Furthermore, the study provided clear evidence of the potential of the SOC concept as a positive mental health indicator.


CONCLUSIONS
The SOC seems to be a health-promoting resource that supports the development of a positive subjective state of health.
Eriksson
Monica
M
Folkhälsan Research Centre, Health Promotion Research Programme, Paasikivigatan 4, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. monica.eriksson@folkhalsan.fi
Lindström
Bengt
B
Lilja
John
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors