[The sense of coherence among general practitioners].
The term "sense of coherence" (SOC) refers to a life perspective which spans affective states centering around notions of comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness of work or personal contribution, and self-confidence, in a context where demands are perceived as challenges. SOC is positively correlated with psychological well-being, stress management and negatively with anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. General practitioners licensed by the regional health insurance fund in Styria were the subject of a 29-item survey on Sense of Coherence as described by Antonovsky; the return rate was 78.3%. The SOC of GPs replying to the survey was categorized as "marginal" in 29.9% of cases, "significant" in 59.9%, and "rigid" (in the sense of a so-called "inauthentic" self-image) in 10.2% of cases. Overall, the value found was 5.30 +/- 0.56 (Likert scale = absolute 153.8 +/- 16.2; significant), which falls within the range of values for other comparable services or professions, and comes slightly on top over figures for a normative sample. No significant correlations were found for either age or gender (p > 0.05). Reported values for comprehensibility gained in proportion to the age of the general practice of the informant (p < 0.05).
Interuniversitäres Kolleg für Gesundheit und Entwicklung, Graz/Schloss Seggau, Osterreich. college@inter-uni.net
Gernot
G
Siber
P C
PC
Endler
Elke
E
Mesenholl
Harald
H
Lothaller
Elisabeth
E
Müller-Breidenbach
T M
TM
Haug
Paul
P
Pass
Michael
M
Frass
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires