Validation and Refinement of the Sense of Coherence Scale for a French Population: Observational Study

• Published in: Interactive journal of medical research 2024-07, Vol.13, p.e50284
• Main Authors: Sebo, Paul, Tudrej, Benoit, Bernard, Augustin, Delaunay, Bruno, Dupuy, Alexandra, Malavergne, Claire, Maisonneuve, Hubert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Short Paper
• ISSN: 1929-073X; 1929-073X
• DOI: 10.2196/50284

Salutogenesis focuses on understanding the factors that contribute to positive health outcomes. At the core of the model lies the sense of coherence (SOC), which plays a crucial role in promoting well-being and resilience. Using the validscale Stata command, we aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the French version of the 3-dimension 13-item SOC questionnaire (SOC-13), encompassing the comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness dimensions. We also aimed to determine if a refined scale, assessed through this method, exhibits superior psychometric properties compared to the SOC-13. A sample of 880 consecutive primary care patients recruited from 35 French practices were asked to complete the SOC-13. We tested for internal consistency and scalability using the Cronbach α and Loevinger H coefficients, respectively, and we tested for construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis and goodness-of-fit indices (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] and comparative fit index [CFI]). Of the 880 eligible patients, 804 (91.4%) agreed to participate (n=527, 65.6% women; median age 51 years). Cronbach α and Loevinger H coefficients for the SOC-13 were all