Understanding the joint effects of family and other developmental contexts on the sense of coherence (SOC): A person‐focused analysis using the Classification Tree

Abstract

Using a person‐focused approach, the present study sought to identify meaningful constellations of contextual factors that led to predominantly high and low levels of sense of coherence (SOC). Specifically, the contributions of the quality of parent–child relationships, teacher and classmate support, models of behaviour in the peer group, and neighbourhood assets were examined in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents aged 13 to 18 that had taken part in the 2010 edition of the study Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children. The quality of parent–child relationships emerged as the main predictor of SOC for the whole sample, but the remaining factors also made significant contributions, which underlines the importance of the simultaneous analysis of the main contexts in adolescents' lives. Additionally, the identified constellations usually included compensatory effects, so no factor should be considered to be completely determining. Interestingly, the role of support at school was different depending on contextual profiles.

The role of community sports coaches in creating optimal social conditions for life skill development and transferability – a salutogenic perspective

“…Several studies have focused on quantitatively assessing the correlations between SOC and various health behaviours (Humphrey & McDowell, 2013) and health outcomes such as emotional health (Moksnes, Espnes, & Lillefjell, 2012) and mental health (Lekkou, Åström, & Hägglöf, 2007). In addition, researchers have begun to study how SOC develops in childhood and early adulthood (García-Moya, Moreno, & Jiménez-Iglesias, 2013;Marsh, Clinkinbeard, Thomas, & Evans, 2007). However, further research is necessary to examine the factors that contribute to the development of SOC, the role of various developmental contexts in building up SOC (García-Moya et al, 2013) and the possibilities for strengthening SOC explicitly, for example in sport-for-development settings (Super, Wagemakers, Picavet, Verkooijen, & Koelen, 2015).…”

“…In addition, researchers have begun to study how SOC develops in childhood and early adulthood (García-Moya, Moreno, & Jiménez-Iglesias, 2013;Marsh, Clinkinbeard, Thomas, & Evans, 2007). However, further research is necessary to examine the factors that contribute to the development of SOC, the role of various developmental contexts in building up SOC (García-Moya et al, 2013) and the possibilities for strengthening SOC explicitly, for example in sport-for-development settings (Super, Wagemakers, Picavet, Verkooijen, & Koelen, 2015). As sport is often seen as a promising setting for positive youth development, taking a salutogenic approach we aim to complement the current literature in the field by investigating how community sports coaches create optimal social conditions for life skill development and transferability.…”

The utility of salutogenesis for guiding health promotion: the case for young people's well-being

“…Relationships with parents (Feldt et al, 2005;García-Moya et al, 2012), support from teachers and classmates (García-Moya et al, 2013d;Natvig et al, 2006), behavioural models in the peer group (García-Moya et al, 2013b) and neighbourhood quality (García-Moya et al, 2013a;Marsh et al,2007) have all been identified as potential precursors of SOC during adolescence.…”

“…Interest in the idea also re-emerged in the 21 st century in the context of public health and its efforts to reduce health inequalities (Morgan and Ziglio, 2007;Eriksson and Lindström, 2008). Most notably, the work of Lindstrom and and others (García-Moya et al, 2013b;Mittelmark and Bull, 2013) have highlighted its theoretical potential both in academic and practice circles and have gone some way to enhance the evidence base to demonstrate its worth as a health concept. Pivotal works include the seminal systematic reviews on the links of sense of coherence (SOC -the central construct of salutogenesis) with wellbeing and quality of life Lindström, 2006, 2007), and a systematic review about SOC in adolescent samples (Rivera et al, 2013) -see methods section for further details.…”

“…With some notable exceptions (García-Moya et al, 2013b;Marsh et al, 2007), that have started the journey to understand more about the sources of SOC. In this respect, Antonovsky (1996, p. 16) claimed that the following question should be at the core of health promotion programs: "What can be done in this 'community'-factory, geographic community, age or ethnic or gender group, chronic or even acute hospital population, those who suffer from a particular disability, etc.-to strengthen the sense of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness of the persons who constitute it?".…”