Thematic analysis of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence theory

Abstract

Antonovsky's sense of coherence (SOC) theory relates to the adaptive capacity of humans. In response to Antonovsky's call to study the sense of coherence concept using methods other than his orientation to life questionnaire, and to further test the application of the concept, qualitative research methods were employed. Using thematic analysis this study investigated how sense of coherence theory applied when mapped onto descriptions by 20 mental health service users of how they deal with problems that they face in their lives. The thematic analysis revealed that sense of coherence theory mapped effectively onto the interview transcripts. The analysis identified various factors that can be considered to be general resistance resources in the sense of coherence model. It also revealed distinctions between concrete and relationship orientated problem solving that led to new insights into how mechanisms of sense of coherence theory may operate. The findings suggest that sense of coherence strength may be split into coping and adaptive capacity for concrete problems and coping and adaptive capacity for relationship oriented problems. This highlights the possibility that SOC strength is not an overall adaptive capacity measure which can be applied with equal effectiveness to all challenges/problems experienced in life.

Work-Family Stressors and Work-Family Satisfaction: Effect of Sense of Coherence at a Metropolitan Municipality

“…Scholars have recommended SOC as an individual's personal resource for coping with stress (Feldt, Leskinen, Kinnunen & Ruoppila, 2003;Nielsen & Hansson, 2007). Literature reveals that individuals with strong SOC cope more adequately with stress and achieve more satisfaction with work and family situations than those with weak SOC (Moksnes & Haugan, 2015;Griffiths, Ryan & Foster, 2011;Antonovsky, 1987). However, to the knowledge of these scholars, no available published studies were discovered that investigated the role of SOC in the linkage between work-family stressors and work-family satisfaction among employees of a metropolitan municipality.…”

“…On these lines, Falk and Miller (1992) suggests organisations should appraise the coping means available to an individual in line with stressors in making decisions that should reduce the negative results of these stressors. A good understanding of SOC (Griffiths et al, 2011) and work place benefits (Ko & Hur, 2014) is needed to answer this question. In this empirical analysis, the findings show that individual employee SOC is important in managing work and family stressors and achieving WFS.…”

Post-natal psychopathology and bonding with the infant among first-time mothers undergoing a caesarian section and vaginal delivery: Sense of coherence and social support as moderators

“…The authors found that SOC is strongly linked to cognitive cognitive strategies aimed at resolving intrapersonal, rather than interpersonal stressors. Additionally, they found that individuals with a strong SOC subsequently experienced less potentially stressful events in their everyday life, did not experience these stressful events as eliciting distress and used more cognitive coping strategies in order to overcome stressful events (Griffiths et al, 2011).…”

Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Experiences of Childhood Cancer

“…By using the salutogenic health model and structured dialogues in health care it may be possible to identify difficulties in relation to having had cancer among young survivors. There are other studies 38 that have concluded that SOC theory can be used to understand how people reflect on how they cope with problems in their everyday lives. Sarenmalm et al (2013) suggest that SOC could be useful as a tool for identifying individuals in need of support to cope with breast cancer 39 .…”