Unraveling the power of sense of coherence: a key predictor of symptom severity among depressive disorders clients

BACKGROUND: Despite advancements in therapies, the severity of depressive symptoms continues to challenge psychiatric nurses. However, research has indicated that a higher sense of coherence (SOC) can act as a protective factor against the development of diseases and promote faster recovery. AIM: This study aimed to investigate whether SOC could serve as an indicator of depressive symptom severity among clients with depression. DESIGN: The study employed a cross-sectional design and followed the STROBE checklist for reporting observational studies. METHODS: A convenient sample of 169 clients with depression participated in the study. The researchers utilized the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale-29 and the Beck Depression Inventory-II to assess SOC and depressive symptoms, respectively. RESULTS: The study findings indicated that a substantial proportion of the participants (35.5%) had low Sense of Coherence (SOC) levels, associated with higher depressive symptoms. The severity of depression showed a significant negative correlation with difficulties in understanding and finding meaning in life and challenges in effectively coping with life's demands (r = -0.626, p < 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that for every one-unit increase in SOC, there was a corresponding decrease of 0.5 units in depressive symptoms. The SOC variable accounted for 39.1% of the variance in depressive symptoms severity. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric nurses should consider implementing interventions to enhance SOC, such as Life Skills Training (LST), psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices, particularly for depressive disorder clients with a poor sense of coherence.