Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Aug 21:9:378.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00378. eCollection 2018.

Sense of Coherence and Stress-Related Resilience: Investigating the Mediating and Moderating Mechanisms in the Development of Resilience Following Stress or Adversity

Affiliations

Sense of Coherence and Stress-Related Resilience: Investigating the Mediating and Moderating Mechanisms in the Development of Resilience Following Stress or Adversity

Shauna L Mc Gee et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Trauma, stress, and adversity are well-known for having lasting negative effects on health. Yet, not all individuals go on to develop psychopathology or impaired health. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms which influence the development of stress-related resilience. Sense of coherence-revised (SOC-R) may play a role in this process, as it is formed through overcoming stress or adversity. It may also influence the steeling effect, which suggests that previous exposure to moderate adversity increases resilience to later adversities. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the mediating and moderating roles of SOC-R in the relationship between stress or adversity, and psychological health and well-being. It further aimed to investigate the role of SOC-R in steeling processes. Methods: The study used a longitudinal design, with data collection at baseline and one-year follow-up. Participants included (N = 238) Swiss older adults (Mage = 68.3 years). Standardized questionnaires assessed early-life adversity, recent chronic stress, SOC-R, and current health and well-being. Mediation and moderation analyses examined the mechanisms underpinning stress-related resilience and curvilinear associations assessed steeling. Results: Results showed that the Manageability subscale of SOC-R significantly moderated the relationship between chronic stress and general mental health (b = 0.04, 95% CI [0.007, 0.082], t = 2.32, p < 0.05). Furthermore, SOC-R significantly mediated the relationship for general mental health (GMH) and satisfaction with life (SWL) with childhood emotional neglect (GMH: b = -0.056, 95% BCa CI [-0.126, -0.002]; SWL: b = -0.043, 95% BCa CI [-0.088, -0.004]), childhood physical neglect (GMH: b = -0.100, 95% BCa CI [-0.232, -0.002]; SWL: b = -0.081, 95% BCa CI [-0.181, -0.002]), and chronic stress (GMH: b = -0.052, 95% BCa CI [-0.100, -0.001]; SWL: b = -0.055, 95% BCa CI [-0.097, -0.020]). No curvilinear associations were observed between stress or adversity and SOC-R. Conclusions: This study expands on the limited research on stress-related resilience by examining the role of SOC-R in the interactions between adversity, stress, and health. Future research should examine SOC-R in samples with a greater range and different types of adversity. Overall, findings suggest that SOC-R is an important mechanism underpinning the development of stress-related resilience.

Keywords: mediating factor; psychological health; resilience mechanisms; sense of coherence-revised; stress-related resilience.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Significant interaction between chronic stress and general mental health at different levels of the moderator (SOC-R manageability). High and low levels refer to one standard deviation above and below the mean of the moderator (i.e., SOC-R Manageability).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mediation model of the relationships between emotional neglect (predictor) and general mental health (outcome variable, A), and satisfaction with life (outcome variable, B), significantly mediated by SOC-R (mediator).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mediation model of the relationships between physical neglect (predictor) and general mental health (outcome variable, A), and satisfaction with life (outcome variable, B), significantly mediated by SOC-R (mediator).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mediation model of the relationships between chronic stress (predictor) and general mental health (outcome variable, A), and satisfaction with life (outcome variable, B), significantly mediated by SOC-R (mediator).

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Krammer S, Kleim B, Simmen-Janevska K, Maercker A. Childhood trauma and complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in older adults: a study of direct effects and social-interpersonal factors as potential mediators. J Dissoc. (2016) 17:593–607. 10.1080/15299732.2014.991861 - DOI - PubMed
    1. McCrory C, Dooley C, Layte R, Kenny RA. The lasting legacy of childhood adversity for disease risk in later life. Health Psychol. (2015) 34:687–96. 10.1037/hea0000147 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kessler RC, McLaughlin KA, Greif Green J, Gruber MJ, Sampson NA, Zaslavsky AM, et al. . Childhood adversities and adult psychopathology in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Br J Psychiatry (2010) 197:378–85. 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.080499 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Juster R-P, McEwen BS, Lupien SJ. Allostatic load biomarkers of chronic stress and impact on health and cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. (2010) 35:2–16. 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.10.002 - DOI - PubMed
    1. McEwen BS. Stressed or stressed out: what is the difference? J Psychiatry Neurosci. (2005) 30:315–8. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources