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Bladh M, Sydsjö G, Ekselius L, Vingård E, Agnafors S. Sense of coherence and health in women: a 25-year follow-up study. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:670. [PMID: 38093276 PMCID: PMC10720174 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02834-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health and Sense of Coherence (SOC) has been shown to be intertwined and argued to have a reciprocal relationship. The theory of SOC implies relatively stable scores during adulthood, however there are few longitudinal studies on the association between SOC and mental and somatic health. The main aim of the present study was to examine how SOC and self-rated health (SRH) are related during 25 years of follow-up. METHODS Using paper questionnaires distributed by postal services, 415 mothers were followed from childbirth and 25 years prospectively. SOC was measured at three, 12 and 25 years after inclusion. Self-reports on health status were obtained at the 25-year follow-up. The association between SOC and self-reported health as well as the effect of sociodemographic factors and experience of stressful life events was assessed through regression models. RESULTS SOC scores increased between three and 12 years after inclusion, and slightly decreased at the 25-year follow-up. Women of good health had a higher SOC-score at all three measurements compared to women of poor health. Multiple logistic regression showed that the likelihood of reporting good health increased with the number of times the women had reported SOC-scores above the 75th percentile. Moreover, women who had not been through a divorce were close to 60% more likely to report good health compared to women who had been through a divorce, whereas women not reporting stressful life events during the past two years were more than twice as likely to report good health. Symptoms below cut-off for postpartum depression and not having been through a divorce were associated with SOC scores above the 75th percentile. CONCLUSION This 25-year follow-up study of a cohort of women reports good stability of SOC assessments in the vast majority of women. There was a stronger and more stable SOC in women with better health. The findings are in line with other studies on the predictive value of SOC and self-perceived health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Bladh
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-58185, Sweden.
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-58185, Sweden
| | - Lisa Ekselius
- Women's Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Eva Vingård
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75185, Sweden
| | - Sara Agnafors
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-58185, Sweden
- Department of Research, Södra Älvsborgs Hospital, Borås, Sweden
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Lorini C, Cavallo G, Vettori V, Buscemi P, Ciardi G, Zanobini P, Okan O, Dadaczynski K, Lastrucci V, Bonaccorsi G. Predictors of well-being, future anxiety, and multiple recurrent health complaints among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of socioeconomic determinants, sense of coherence, and digital health literacy. An Italian cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1210327. [PMID: 37799148 PMCID: PMC10548390 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1210327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The pandemic deeply changed young adults' life. Lockdown period and the social restrictions dramatically affected university students' mental health. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to describe psychological well-being, future anxiety (FA), and health complaints (HCs) in a sample of 3,001 students of the University of Florence in the middle of the first two pandemic waves. We assessed the role of subjective social status, chronic diseases, sense of coherence (SoC), and digital health literacy (DHL) as predictors of psychological well-being, FA, and HCs. Students expressed high levels of FA and reported being disturbed by not being able to achieve their desired future goals. About 40% reported a low or a very low well-being and 19.1% experienced two or more subjective health complaints more than once a week. The likelihood of having a better mental health status significantly increased with increasing SoC and among males. Subjective Social Status proved to be a predictor for FA. Enhancing SoC could improve the health status of the university students during the pandemic and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lorini
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cavallo
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Virginia Vettori
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Primo Buscemi
- School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Ciardi
- School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizio Zanobini
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Orkan Okan
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University Munich, Uptown München-Campus D, Munich, Germany
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
- Center for Applied Health Sciences, Leuphana Universitat Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Vieri Lastrucci
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Bonaccorsi
- Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Vally Z, Helmy M, Fourie L. The association between depression and addictive social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of sense of control. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291034. [PMID: 37683017 PMCID: PMC10490948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 precipitated a plethora of mental health difficulties, particularly for those with pre-existing mental health concerns such as depression or addictive tendencies. For some, the distress that emanated from the experience of the pandemic prompted excessive engagement in the safety of online interactions on social media. The present study examined whether variation in individuals' sense of control explained the association between depression and addictive social media use. METHOD A sample of 1322 participants from two Middle Eastern nations provided data collected during the peak of the pandemic from February to May 2021. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit and collect data from college-aged students enrolled at two universities in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, respectively. This study adopted a cross-sectional design in which participants completed a self-administered survey that consisted of measures that assessed depressive affect, sense of control, and addictive social media use. RESULTS Depression was significantly and positively associated with addictive SMU. Sense of control was negatively related to both depression and SMU and significantly mediated the association between these two variables (β = .62, SE = .03, 95%CI .56, .68). CONCLUSION This study identified a potential protective variable that could be targeted by psychological treatment to ameliorate the potential onset of addictive SMU in individuals with depressive symptoms under conditions of immense psychological distress such as a worldwide pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahir Vally
- Department of Clinical Psychology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mai Helmy
- Department of Psychology, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Department of Psychology, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
| | - Louis Fourie
- Department of Clinical Psychology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Tekin S, Burrows K, Billings J, Waters M, Lowe SR. Psychosocial resources underlying disaster survivors' posttraumatic stress symptom trajectories: insight from in-depth interviews with mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2211355. [PMID: 37334999 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2211355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Weather-related disasters, including hurricanes, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerable populations, such as people with low income and racial and ethnic minorities, are particularly prone to increased levels of physical harm and psychiatric adversity from weather-related events.Objectives: We aimed to explore psychosocial resources and coping of survivors with three different posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) trajectories (High-Decreasing, Moderate-Decreasing, and High-Stable), after Hurricane Katrina across two different time points: F1 (1-year post-disaster) and F3 (12 years post-disaster).Method: Participants in this multi-method study were part of a larger cohort of the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project. Transcripts of interviews completed at the two time points were analysed using two qualitative methods, combining thematic analysis and narrative analysis, and providing both breadth of perspectives with the depth of specific case studies.Results: Sixteen survivors completed interviews at both F1 and F3. From our in-depth analysis of the data, we derived five inductive themes: 'Hope,' 'Adaptive vs maladaptive avoidance,' 'Emotional delay,' 'Acceptance, Finding Meaning and Being in the Moment,' and 'Coping strategies.' Survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories experienced hope for future, accepted the hurricane and its results, and found efficient ways to cope with their situation. Survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories tended to express a lack of hope for future and struggled to be mindful and accept the hurricane and its harm. Unlike survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories, survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories also reported less social and family support and faced more discrimination and racism.Conclusion: There are factors beyond individual-level psychosocial resources that may shape post-disaster resilience. When supporting survivors after a weather-related disaster, it is essential to provide ongoing psychological, financial, and physical assistance to bolster these resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahra Tekin
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kate Burrows
- Institute at Brown University for Environment and Society, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jo Billings
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mary Waters
- Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah R Lowe
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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Leung AYM, Parial LL, Tolabing MC, Sim T, Mo P, Okan O, Dadaczynski K. Sense of coherence mediates the relationship between digital health literacy and anxiety about the future in aging population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a path analysis. Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:544-553. [PMID: 33438448 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1870206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults experience various challenges, including information uncertainties, financial pressure, and visit restrictions, which may lead to anxiety about the future. As a protective factor, sense of coherence (SOC) may play a role to reduce some psychological discomfort. This study aimed to analyze the relationships of SOC with anxiety, digital health literacy (DHL), information, and financial satisfaction among older adults during the outbreak.Methods: This is part of a large-scale DHL study with a cross-sectional survey across 41 countries. This study extracted data from three Asian countries (China, the Philippines, and Singapore) and included people aged ≥60. Structural equation modeling with path analysis was utilized to examine the relationships of SOC with anxiety about the future and other variables.Results: A total of 266 older adults were included, with 43.2% expressed anxiety about the future. DHL (β=-0.13, p < 0.05) and SOC (β=-0.26, p = 0.01) were negatively associated with anxiety, while financial and information satisfaction were not. However, financial satisfaction (β = 0.34, p < 0.01) and DHL (β = 0.32, p = 0.01) were positively associated with SOC. Higher SOC further mediated the negative relationships of DHL (β= -0.11, p = 0.004) and financial satisfaction (β= -0.12, p = 0.004) on anxiety of older adults.Conclusions: SOC had direct negative effect on anxiety and mediated the relationships between anxiety and DHL/financial satisfaction. Strategies should be developed to enhance SOC and DHL among older adults, as these capacities may help to manage anxiety during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Yee Man Leung
- Centre for Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Laurence Lloyd Parial
- Centre for Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,College of Nursing, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ma Carmen Tolabing
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
| | - Timothy Sim
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Phoenix Mo
- Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care; Centre for Health Behaviours Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Orkan Okan
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Educational Science, Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Literacy Research, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Public Health Centre Fulda, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany.,Center for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Lueneburg, Germany
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Dymecka J, Gerymski R, Machnik-Czerwik A, Derbis R, Bidzan M. Fear of COVID-19 and Life Satisfaction: The Role of the Health-Related Hardiness and Sense of Coherence. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:712103. [PMID: 34790135 PMCID: PMC8591072 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.712103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to increased fear and anxiety throughout society, which may affect life satisfaction. Health-related hardiness and sense of coherence (SOC) are personal resources that help people adapt to difficult circumstances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19, SOC, health-related hardiness, and life satisfaction. Methods: A total of 907 Polish people (522 women and 385 men) participated in this study. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FOC-6), the Health-Related Hardiness Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. Results: Correlation showed that fear of COVID-19 was negatively related to health-related hardiness, SOC, and life satisfaction. Health-related hardiness and SOC were positively related to life satisfaction. Both SOC and hardiness were mediators between fear of COVID-19 and life satisfaction during the current pandemic. Conclusion: SOC and health-related hardiness are personal resources that are important for dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our study, SOC and hardiness can mediate between fear of COVID-19 and life satisfaction. Presented cross-sectional results have to be verified in future longitudinal studies in order to strengthen the conclusions presented in this manuscript. This study verified the role of only two personal resources, so more research is needed on the role of other personal resources during COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Dymecka
- Department of Health Psychology and Quality of Life, Institute of Psychology, Opole University, Opole, Poland
| | - Rafał Gerymski
- Department of Health Psychology and Quality of Life, Institute of Psychology, Opole University, Opole, Poland
| | - Anna Machnik-Czerwik
- Department of Health Psychology and Quality of Life, Institute of Psychology, Opole University, Opole, Poland
| | - Romuald Derbis
- Department of General and Work Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Opole University, Opole, Poland
| | - Mariola Bidzan
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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Arslan HN, Karabekiroglu A, Terzi O, Dundar C. The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on physicians' psychological resilience levels. Postgrad Med 2021; 133:223-230. [PMID: 33412973 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2021.1874166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health-care workers exposed to coronavirus19 disease could be psychologically stressed. The objective of this study is to assess the anxiety, depression levels, and psychological resilience of physicians working during the Covid-19 outbreak and to evaluate the related factors that are associated with their psychological resilience. METHODS The sample of this descriptive study was composed of medical doctors and dentists. The data were obtained online between April 13-23, 2020 through a survey prepared by the researchers. In addition, a questionnaire about the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, the Psychological Resilience Scale and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HAD-A/HAD-D) was given. RESULTS The average age of the 671 participants was 44.0 ± 9.0 years. Psychological resilience scores were significantly higher in those who had children, who had worked for 15 years or more, and who had received training about COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Depression scores were higher among women and in those who reported having a chronic disease, whose workload increased after the outbreak, and who had physical contact with COVID-positive patients. The anxiety scores were also higher among women and in those whose workload had increased and who had contact with COVID-positive patients (p < 0.05). The physicians with scores below the cutoff point on the HAD-D/HAD-A had significantly higher scores on the Psychological Resilience Scale (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION Depression and anxiety levels were found to be significantly lower in physicians with greater psychological resilience. Psychological and social support of all health-care workers, especially physicians, is important in the struggle with the pandemic. It is thought that determining the variables related to psychological resilience in health-care workers will be a guide for psychosocial services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Nilden Arslan
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Aytul Karabekiroglu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Terzi
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Cihad Dundar
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
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The Effect of E-Learning on Self-Efficacy and Sense of Coherence of Cancer Caregivers: Application of the Bandura and Antonovsky Social Cognitive Theory. CURRENT HEALTH SCIENCES JOURNAL 2021; 47:539-546. [PMID: 35444825 PMCID: PMC8987468 DOI: 10.12865/chsj.47.04.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
AIM Cancer is one of the most important chronic diseases which affects caregivers. Therefore, in this study, we decided to increase the self-efficacy and sense of coherence of caregivers by using virtual learning via mobile to increase the power of managing in such situations. METHODS This study is a clinical trial performed on 60 caregivers of cancer patients. Questionnaires of demographic information, Bandura self-efficacy, and Antonovsky's sense of coherence were completed for both intervention and control groups. Then, for the intervention group, a virtual educational intervention was performed daily for 1 month using the mobile phones, and for the control group, no intervention was performed. RESULTS The mean score of self-efficacy in the intervention group was (18.09±93.21) before and (135.12±11.14) after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P=0.001). While in the control group, this means was (84.71±18.55) before and (84.75±17.13) after the study, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.2). Also, the mean score of sense of coherence in the intervention group was (73.25±7.28) before and (89.11±7.11) after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P=0.001). While in the control group, this means was (76.42±7.45) before and (76.89±7.27) after the study, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.31). CONCLUSION Educational interventions, even virtually, can lead to improved self-efficacy and a sense of coherence in caregivers of cancer patients and can be used as one of the low-cost and effective methods in managing and controlling the disease.
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Schäfer SK, Schanz CG, Sopp MR, Lass-Hennemann J, Käfer M, Michael T. Pre-rehabilitation sense of coherence as a predictor of symptom change after rehabilitation. Stress Health 2020; 36:546-554. [PMID: 32343492 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Sense of coherence (SOC) constitutes the key component of salutogenesis theory. It reflects individuals' confidence that their environment is comprehensible and manageable and that their lives are meaningful. Research demonstrates a strong cross-sectional relationship between SOC and mental health. However, little is known about SOC's temporal stability and its potential to predict changes in psychopathological symptom severity in different settings. The goal of the current study was to address this gap. The sample of the two-wave longitudinal study consists of 294 patients receiving inpatient psychotherapeutic (and psychopharmacological) treatment for various psychological disorders at a German psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic. SOC (Antonovsky, Social Science & Medicine, 1993, 36, 725-733) and outcome measures (i.e., general mental health problems, depression and anxiety symptoms) were assessed within two days of arrival and at the end of rehabilitation (week 5/6). SOC was significantly enhanced after treatment whereas psychopathological symptoms were significantly reduced. Regression analyses revealed that pre-treatment SOC was a significant negative predictor of post-treatment symptom severity for all outcome measures even after controlling for pre-treatment symptoms. The current findings provide first evidence that SOC is a significant unique predictor of symptom change. Future studies need to further investigate longitudinal associations between SOC and mental health outcomes in different settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Schäfer
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Christian G Schanz
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - M Roxanne Sopp
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | | | - Michael Käfer
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, MediClin Bliestal Kliniken, Blieskastel, Germany
| | - Tanja Michael
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
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