Sense of Coherence and the association with sociodemographics and disability related factors in persons with late effects of polio

BACKGROUND: Sense of Coherence (SOC) is important for successful adaptation in persons with life-long disabilities. A previous study has shown that persons with Late Effects of Polio (LEoP) have a level of SOC indicating that they generally have the ability to understand, handle and being motivated when dealing with stressful events and problems arising in their lives. However, no study has explored the associations between SOC, sociodemographics and disability related factors in persons with LEoP.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between SOC, sociodemographics and disability related factors in persons with LEoP.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional design.

SETTING: University hospital outpatient clinic.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-three persons (mean age 74 years, 52% women) with LEoP.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Swedish versions of the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13), Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP) scale, Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL-I) (subscales "Daily functioning" and "Perceptions of Self") and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).

METHODS: The participants responded to a postal survey with background information and the four rating scales. To determine factors associated with SOC, a hierarchical regression analysis was performed with SOC as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: Higher age, less bothered by symptoms of LEoP, better perceptions of self and higher life satisfaction were significantly associated with a greater SOC score. The final model explained 60% of the variance in the SOC (R2 Adj= 0.60, p<.001).

CONCLUSION: The strong association between SOC, higher age and disability related factors is important to consider in the rehabilitation of persons with LEoP. This knowledge can assist rehabilitation professionals to plan interventions that enable people with LEoP to develop strategies to better manage their daily life. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.