Summary article ‘Strengthening sense of coherence:
opportunities for theory building in health promotion’ –
Super, Wagemakers, Picavet, Verkooijen, & Koelen
(2016)
Summary
Sense of coherence (SOC) reflects a coping capacity of people to deal
with everyday life stressors and consists of 3 elements: comprehensibility,
manageability, and meaningfulness.
- Stable entity that is developed in young adulthood and stabilizes
around 30.
Aim: explore the mechanisms underlying SOC as these insights may
underpin future health promotion efforts. An exploration of the salutogenic
model suggests 2 important mechanisms:
- Behavioural possibility to empower people to use their resources
in stressful situations.
- Perceptual in order for people to deal with life stressors, it is
essential that they are able to reflect on their understanding of the
stressful situation and the resources that are available.
Both empowerment and reflection processes may be relevant for health
promoting activities strengthening SOC. The successful application of
resources to deal with stressors isn’t only likely to have a positive
influence on health, but also creates consistent and meaningful life
experiences that can positively reinforce SOC levels.
Introduction
SOC is a core construct of the salutogenic model that focuses on the
origins of health and wellbeing rather than disease.
Elements of SOC:
1. Comprehensibility= The stimuli, deriving from one’s internal and
external environments in the course of living are structured,
predictable and explicable.
2. Manageability= The resources are available to one to meet the
demands posed by these stimuli.
3. Meaningfulness= The demands are challenges, worthy of
investment and engagement.
People with a strong SOC seem to be better able to deal with the
stressors of everyday life and to use the resources at their disposal to
counter these stressors. This coping capacity may bring about a better
health status for individuals with a higher SOC.
- Seems that groups low in SOC are especially vulnerable to the
hardships in life poorer lifestyle choices reduced (mental)
health.
- Health promotion efforts may benefit from strengthening SOC.
opportunities for theory building in health promotion’ –
Super, Wagemakers, Picavet, Verkooijen, & Koelen
(2016)
Summary
Sense of coherence (SOC) reflects a coping capacity of people to deal
with everyday life stressors and consists of 3 elements: comprehensibility,
manageability, and meaningfulness.
- Stable entity that is developed in young adulthood and stabilizes
around 30.
Aim: explore the mechanisms underlying SOC as these insights may
underpin future health promotion efforts. An exploration of the salutogenic
model suggests 2 important mechanisms:
- Behavioural possibility to empower people to use their resources
in stressful situations.
- Perceptual in order for people to deal with life stressors, it is
essential that they are able to reflect on their understanding of the
stressful situation and the resources that are available.
Both empowerment and reflection processes may be relevant for health
promoting activities strengthening SOC. The successful application of
resources to deal with stressors isn’t only likely to have a positive
influence on health, but also creates consistent and meaningful life
experiences that can positively reinforce SOC levels.
Introduction
SOC is a core construct of the salutogenic model that focuses on the
origins of health and wellbeing rather than disease.
Elements of SOC:
1. Comprehensibility= The stimuli, deriving from one’s internal and
external environments in the course of living are structured,
predictable and explicable.
2. Manageability= The resources are available to one to meet the
demands posed by these stimuli.
3. Meaningfulness= The demands are challenges, worthy of
investment and engagement.
People with a strong SOC seem to be better able to deal with the
stressors of everyday life and to use the resources at their disposal to
counter these stressors. This coping capacity may bring about a better
health status for individuals with a higher SOC.
- Seems that groups low in SOC are especially vulnerable to the
hardships in life poorer lifestyle choices reduced (mental)
health.
- Health promotion efforts may benefit from strengthening SOC.
