Risk and Protective Factors Predictive of Sense of Coherence during Adolescence

A study undertaken to better understand the factors that are related to sense of coherence (SOC) levels among youth revealed social support, anger expression, family conflict and neighborhood cohesion were predictors of SOC for both males and females.

Abstract

This brief report presents a study undertaken to better understand the factors that are related to sense of coherence (SOC) levels among youth. Middle school students (N = 1619) reported on risk and protective factors across ecological domains. Analyses revealed that social support, anger expression, family conflict and neighborhood cohesion were predictors of SOC for both males and females. Community views regarding gang membership was a predictor of SOC only for males, while age was a predictor of SOC only for females. The findings suggest a resiliency and ecological framework may be helpful in understanding SOC in youth.