Citation

Midanik LT, Soghikian K, Ransom LJ, Polen MR. Soc. Sci. Med. 1992; 34(1): 43-48.

Affiliation

Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1738855

Abstract

The relation between alcohol problems and sense of coherence (SOC), a salutogenic model developed by Antonovsky, was assessed on a sample of 952 older members of a health maintenance organization. Data on alcohol problems (5-item index) and SOC (9-item scale) were obtained from mailed questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses indicated that SOC was a significant negative predictor of alcohol problems while controlling for alcohol consumption level, frequency of drunkenness and demographic characteristics. In addition, SOC scores were significantly higher for a subsample of lighter drinkers who reported no alcohol problems in the last year and had not been drunk in the last year (n = 419) as compared to heavier drinkers who reported at least one alcohol problem in the last year, and reported being drunk at least once in the last year (n = 107). These findings emphasize the importance of assessing factors which contribute to healthier behaviors as opposed to focusing exclusively on predictors of pathogenic outcomes.

Language: en