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Development of sense of coherence in adulthood: a person-centered approach. The population-based HeSSup cohort study

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Abstract

Objective

We sought to identify the most typical patterns of change in sense of coherence (SOC) in adulthood.

Methods

This prospective population-based Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study was based on four age cohorts including men and women initially aged 20–24 years (n = 4,682), 30–34 years (n = 4,248), 40–44 years (n = 4,598), and 50–54 years (n = 4,997). SOC was assessed at baseline and at the 5-year follow-up point. Factor Mixture Modeling was used to identify the latent classes of persons whose mean changes in SOC were similar over time.

Results

Three development classes were supported by the data. In all age cohorts, the largest class consisted of those people whose SOC was high at baseline and increased thereafter (46–58% of participants depending on the age group). A class of high SOC with a decreasing trend and that of low SOC with an increasing trend were also found. In all age groups, the rank-order stability was high in the first development class (0.84–0.98) but low in other classes (0.35–0.44).

Conclusion

This analysis shows continuous increase in the level of SOC over time to be common in adulthood, irrespective of age. High SOC, rather than higher age, seems to determine a stable development of the SOC.

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Acknowledgments

Markku Koskenvuo (the director of the HeSSup study) was supported by the Academy of Finland (project 201363). Mika Kivimäki and Jussi Vahtera are supported by the Academy of Finland (grants #117604, #124271, #124322, #129262 and #132944). The HeSSup study group consists of the following researchers (in alphabetical order): Elovainio Marko, Franck Jaana, Helenius Hans, Immonen-Räihä Pirjo, Jalava-Broman Jaana, Jokinen Kirsi, Kivimäki Mika, Korkeila Jyrki, Korkeila Katariina, Koskenvuo Markku, Lillberg Kirsi, Mattila Kari, Ojanlatva Ansa, Paljärvi Tapio, Rautava Päivi, Sillanmäki Lauri, Sumanen Markku, Suominen Sakari, Vahtera Jussi, Vainionmäki Paula, Virtanen Pekka and Volanen Salla-Maarit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Taru Feldt

  2. Department of Maths and Statistics, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Esko Leskinen

  3. Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Markku Koskenvuo & Mika Kivimäki

  4. Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Folkhälsan Research Center, Turku, Finland

    Sakari Suominen

  5. Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Turku, Finland

    Jussi Vahtera

  6. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK

    Mika Kivimäki

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  1. Taru Feldt
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Correspondence to Taru Feldt.

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Feldt, T., Leskinen, E., Koskenvuo, M. et al. Development of sense of coherence in adulthood: a person-centered approach. The population-based HeSSup cohort study. Qual Life Res 20, 69–79 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9720-7

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