title: Validation of the Sense of Coherence Scale in an American Indian population.
abstract: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale in the context of an oral health-related clinical trial conducted in an American Indian population-specifically, people of the Navajo Nation. Data were derived from baseline evaluations of parents (or caregivers) of Navajo children aged 3-5 from 52 Head Start classes enrolled in a trial of an intervention to prevent early childhood caries (ECC). A 190-item Basic Research Factors Questionnaire, which included the SOC, was administered to 1,016 parents/caregivers. Assessment of internal reliability and convergent validity, and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine associations between parents' SOC and other potentially convergent measures. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine 1- and 3-factor solutions of the SOC scale. Higher SOC was significantly related to higher parental education and income, employment status, and higher scores for social support, internal Oral Health Locus of Control (OHLOC), self-efficacy, importance of oral health, oral health knowledge and behavior, and children's oral health quality of life. Higher SOC also was related to lower reported distress and lower external OHLOC. Cronbach's α was 0.84 for all SOC items, but lower for each of the 3 SOC subscales. Confirmatory factor analyses suggested a 3-factor solution was superior to a 1-factor solution. The SOC scale had good internal reliability and convergent validity in this American Indian population.
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albino
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Allison L B
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Tamanna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Angela G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brega
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Jacob F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Lucinda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Children's Outcomes Research Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Quissell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003120:Colorado; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000208:ethnology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires