Sense of coherence and diabetes: a prospective occupational cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Sense of coherence (SOC) is an individual characteristic related to a positive life orientation leading to effective coping. A weak SOC has been associated with indicators of general morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between SOC and diabetes has not been studied in prospective design. The present study prospectively examined the relationship between a weak SOC and the incidence of diabetes.


METHODS
The relationship between a weak SOC and the incidence of diabetes was investigated among 5827 Finnish male employees aged 18-65 at baseline (1986). SOC was measured by questionnaire survey at baseline. Data on prescription diabetes drugs from 1987 to 2004 were obtained from the Drug Imbursement Register held by the Social Insurance Institution.


RESULTS
During the follow-up, 313 cases of diabetes were recorded. A weak SOC was associated with a 46% higher risk of diabetes in participants who had been = <50 years of age on entry into the study. This association was independent of age, education, marital status, psychological distress, self-rated health, smoking status, binge drinking and physical activity. No similar association was observed in older employees.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that besides focusing on well-known risk factors for diabetes, strengthening SOC in employees of = <50 years of age can also play a role in attempts to tackle increasing rates of diabetes.
Kouvonen
Anne M
AM
Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham, 8 William Lee Buildings, Nottingham Science and Technology Park, University Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2RQ, UK. anne.kouvonen@nottingham.ac.uk
Väänänen
Ari
A
Woods
Stephen A
SA
Heponiemi
Tarja
T
Koskinen
Aki
A
Toppinen-Tanner
Salla
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires