Abstract.
Background:
Much debate exists about the stability of the sense of coherence measure. This study examined changes in sense of coherence (SOC), and the variables associated with these changes, over a 4-year period, in a representative sample of the Canadian labour force (n=6,790).
Methods:
Two methods were used to assess change in SOC: (1) Change outside of that which could be considered as indistinguishable from measurement error, and (2) Change of more than 10%, which was originally proposed by Antonovksy, the scales designer.
Results:
Over the study period, 35.4% of the population reported changes in SOC outside the range we consider possible due to measurement error, with 58% reporting change greater than 10%. Unskilled occupations were associated with declines in SOC, with household income demonstrating a curvilinear relationship with decline in SOC in the female population only. None of the variables used predicted increases in SOC.
Conclusions:
Given the degree of change in SOC, and the representativeness of the study sample, we suggest that SOC has a large state component. Given this lack of stability, we recommend caution if using the SOC to represent a stable global orientation within a causal context.
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Abbreviations
- SOC:
-
Sense of Coherence
- T-RT:
-
Test-Retest
- SEM:
-
Standard Error of Measurement
- MDC:
-
Minimum Detectable Change
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Smith, P.M., Breslin, F.C. & Beaton, D.E. Questioning the stability of sense of coherence. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 38, 475–484 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-003-0654-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-003-0654-z