The Meaning of Sense of Coherence (SOC) in Persons with Late Effects of Polio—A Qualitative Study

Sense of Coherence (SOC), comprising comprehensibility, manageability and meaningful-ness, is important for the sense of living a good life with Late Effects of Polio (LEoP). However, there is a lack of knowledge about the meaning of these three components. The aim of this study was to explore in-depth the meaning of SOC among persons living with LEoP, in terms of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. A directed content analysis was performed based on individual interviews with 7 men and 7 women with LEoP (mean age 73 years). SOC in persons with LEoP existed in two overarching themes that were closely intertwined: a state of motion and a state of being. The state of motion comprised active approaches, choices and actions, and was a process aimed at achieving a stronger comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. The state of being comprised the comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness that the persons currently experienced. A profound understanding of SOC as both a state of motion and state being is essential for rehabilitation professionals when providing self-management support to persons living with LEoP. This understanding can increase their sense of living a good life and also be used in the rehabilitation of other life-long conditions.