Validation of the Norwegian version of the work-related sense of coherence scale

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the work-related sense of coherence (work-SOC) scale, which measures the perceived comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness of an individual´s current work situation. Methods: Factorial validity, convergent and discriminant validity of the factors, as well as scale reliability were tested with confirmatory factor analyses among two samples of employees in higher education institutions (N = 6951) and nursing homes (N = 558). Factorial invariance across occupational groups was also investigated. Results: A modified three-factor structure was shown to be valid and reliable in both samples and invariant across occupational groups. However, problems were detected regarding the discriminant validity between the factors comprehensibility and manageability. Conclusion:The Norwegian version of the work-SOC scale seems to have good properties. Further development is needed to better distinguish between the comprehensibility and manageability dimensions.Keywords: Work-related sense of coherence, sense of coherence, psychometrics, factorial validity, scale reliability, measurement invariance, nursing homes, higher education Validation Norwegian work-SOC scale 2 Validation of the Norwegian version of the work-related sense of coherence scale Sense of coherence (SOC) refers to a global orientation to view one´s internal and external environments as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. It was coined by Antonovsky [1,2] as the core concept of a salutogenic model to explain the origins of health.A positive relation between SOC and perceived health has been confirmed by a number of studies [3], and the concept has been applied in several settings. Context-specific conceptualizations of SOC have been proposed for universities [4], families [5], and more recently for work [6]. The assumption is that a work environment perceived as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful is health promoting [6] and that measuring work-related SOC (work-SOC) will thereby be relevant for planning and evaluating healthrelated interventions at work [7]. The workplace is acknowledged by the World Health Organization [8] as a priority setting for health promotion in the current century and many organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages of having a healthy and motivated workforce.Similar to the global SOC, work-SOC is defined as "the perceived comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness of an individual´s current work situation" [7]. The three dimensions are cognitive, instrumental and motivational components of the concept, respectively. Comprehensibility is "the extent to which a work situation is perceived as structured, consistent, and clear", manageability is "the extent to which an employee perceives that adequate resources are available to cope with demands in the workplace", and meaningfulness is "the extent to which a situation at work is seen as worthy of commitment and involvement" [7]....

Work-Related Sense of Coherence and Longitudinal Relationships with Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction

“…The original version of the scale comprises nine items. In the current study, the scale was treated according to a validation of the Norwegian translation (Grødal et al, 2018) with a total of eight items representing the dimensions of comprehensibility (three items, e.g., "Structured-Unstructured"), manageability (two items, e.g., "Easy to influence-Impossible to influence"), and meaningfulness (three items, e.g., "Meaningless-Meaningful"). Scores were calculated as mean scores of the respective items.…”

Sense of Coherence and Stress-Related Resilience: Investigating the Mediating and Moderating Mechanisms in the Development of Resilience Following Stress or Adversity

“…One factor which may play an important role in the development of stress-related resilience is the recently revised Sense of Coherence (SOC-R) concept. The SOC-R concept and scale was developed by Bachem and Maercker ( 16 ) as a revision of the original Sense of Coherence (SOC), which had shown conflicting results with regard to its psychometric properties ( 17 – 19 ). The original SOC refers to a way of viewing the world which facilitates successful coping with stressors and is comprised of three components: (1) Comprehensibility , that stimuli are perceived as structured, predictable, and explicable; (2) Manageability , that adequate resources are available to meet demands; and (3) Meaningfulness , that demands are viewed as worth investing in and engaging with ( 20 , 21 ).…”

Affective organizational commitment among nursing home employees: A longitudinal study on the influence of a health‐promoting work environment

“…Work‐SOC was measured using a scale where employees were asked to rate how they perceived their current job and work situation in general on a seven‐point scale between bipolar adjective pairs (Bauer, Vogt, Inauen, & Jenny, ; Vogt et al, ). The scale was treated according to a previous validation of the Norwegian translation of the scale (Grødal et al, ) with three items representing comprehensibility (e.g., “Structured – Unstructured”), two items representing manageability (e.g., “Easy to influence – Impossible to influence”) and three items representing meaningfulness (e.g., “Meaningless – Meaningful”).…”

“…Prior to investigating the hypotheses, the measurement models were specified and tested according to our data. The cross‐sectional model (M1), using data from T1, included AOC and the specific job demands and job resources indicated by their respective scale items, as well as work‐SOC indicated by the mean scores of the subscales of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness as suggested by Grødal et al (). Each longitudinal model (M2–M6) included one of the specific job demands/resources indicated by its respective scale items at T1, AOC measured at both T1 and T2 with respective scale items as indicators and work‐SOC change indicated by the standardized residual scores of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness.…”