The Relationship Between Sense of Coherence and Adjustment in Persons with Disabilities

The concepts of salutogenesis and Antonovsky's sense of coherence are introduced. Salutogenesis and sense of coherence are based upon factors (i.e., comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) that promote health rather than those factors that cause disease. This study investigated the relationship between sense of coherence and adjustment in individuals with a disability (i.e., 89 college students with disabilities). Results indicated a positive correlation between sense of coherence and adjustment (p < .01). The subscales of sense of coherence accounted for 77% of the variance in adjustment, with the meaningfulness subscale accounting for the greatest percentage. The value of these paradigms and implications for rehabilitation counseling are discussed.