Abstract
Objectives The amount of research relating to evaluation of intervention programs with regard to sense of coherence, a concept of salutogenic stressor coping capacity, is increasing in Japan. However, a nationally representative score of the Japanese version of the sense of coherence scale has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to describe the 13-item, 7-point Japanese sense of coherence scale (SOC-13), with scoring by sex and age group, and to examine the relationships between the score and locality and city size.
Methods Four thousand Japanese men and women were selected by stratified random sampling, and a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted using the placement method. Responses were obtained from 2,067 individuals (response rate: 51.7%). This study analyzed 956 men and 1,107 women (mean age [standard deviation]: 50.0 [14.3]).
Results The mean score on the SOC-13 was 59.0 (12.2) in all participants, 59.1 (11.8) in men, and 58.9 (12.5) in women. No significant difference was found between men and women (P=0.784). ANOVA and multiple comparison for age difference showed a clear relationship (P<0.05) between higher age and a higher SOC-13 score. Moreover, the results of main and interaction effects in ANCOVA, with independent variables for locality (11 segments) and city size (four segments), were not significant when controlled for age.
Conclusion A nationally representative score for the Japanese SOC-13 was acquired. In future research, application of the SOC-13 in Japan for clinical studies is anticipated based on the nationally representative score.
