Sense of Coherence and Stress: The Mechanics of a Healthy Disposition

Sense of coherence - a disposition towards seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful - has been linked to greater stress-resistance and better health. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unspecified. Three laboratory studies of undergraduates ( n s = 116, 90, and 52) explored possible perceptual, attributional, and behavioral mechanisms. Findings revealed (1) a perceptual process, which had diffuse and subtle effects on views of stressful events; (2) a behavioral process, which involved more problem-solving and less avoidant coping; and (3) that these processes were tied to coherence, rather than to related (i.e., control) constructs. Data from a community-based, longitudinal field study ( n = 75) verified associations among coherence, coping, and health. Moreover, they yielded a causal model which showed the disposition to both directly impact health status, and to operate indirectly via coping. Implications for the study of other personality dispositions and health are discussed.