The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between, personal meaning, sense of coherence, organisational commitment and selected biographical variables, specifically age, tenure and occupational level. It was found that mostly significant positive relationships exist between personal meaning and sense of coherence. Personal meaning and sense of coherence exhibit predictive value for organisational commitment. It was established that self-transcendence plays a significant role in the development of affective and normative organisational commitment. Some significant differences were found between management and non-management employees in the manifestation of personal meaning. Management approximate more personal meaning to achievement, self-acceptance, and fair treatment. On sense of coherence and organisational commitment there were no significant differences between management and non-management employees. It was recommended that the relationship between personal meaning and other positive psychology variables be researched in order to determine the significance of such relationships so as to add to this relatively new body of research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm.

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Salutogenic constructs (Sense of Coherence, Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy) and Interpersonal Styles. In addition it sets out to examine whether there are any differences between both aforementioned variables and selected individual and organisational variables, specifically, gender, race, age and tenure. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Friendly, while significant negative relationships were found between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Hostile and Hostile-Submissive. Salutogenic constructs were found to have no significant relationships with the remaining five Interpersonal Styles namely Dominant, Dominant-Friendly, FriendlySubmissive, Submissive and Hostile-Dominant. Salutogenic constructs showed no significant differences with regards gender and race, but significant differences with regards age and tenure. Interpersonal Style showed significant differences with regard to race, age and tenure, but not with gender with the exception of the Hostile-Submissive, Hostile and Friendly styles / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of this study was to: (1) assess the overall wellness climate profile of a sample of higher education call centre employees for national benchmarking purposes; (2) explore the relationship between the participants‟ sense of coherence, affective wellbeing and burnout; and (3) determine how the participants differ regarding these variables in terms of socio-demographic contextual factors such as gender, race, age, and marital status. The South African Employee Health and Wellness Survey was used as a measuring instrument. Compared to the national norm, the results indicated a risky wellness climate reflecting a burnout propensity, lower morale (affective wellbeing) and lower resilience (sense of coherence). Significant relations existed between the participants‟ sense of coherence, affective wellbeing and burnout levels. Significant differences regarding these variables were also detected between males and females and the various marital status groups regarding the participants‟ sense of coherence, affective wellbeing and burnout. The findings of this study contributed new knowledge that may be used to inform employee wellness programmes within a higher education call centre environment. The study concluded with recommendations for future research and practice. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research has utilised Antonovsky's SOC construct and explored its role in a group relations training event. A quantitative and qualitative design was used. A sample of eight (N = 8) human resources practitioners was recruited through convenience sampling. The qualitative analysis of the group relations training event was facilitated by split mean procedure analysis of the SOC results. The research demonstrated that the SOC is a pervasive disposition in determining the way in which one appraises and copes with group relations· training. All participants experienced anxiety, stress, defensive behaviour, negative emotions and learning associated with a group relations training event. However, the high-SOC participants were better able to cope, manage and make sense of the group relations training than low-SOC individuals. Recommendations were formulated in doing future research for human resource practitioners on the role of SOC in group relations training. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.Admin. (Industrial Psychology)

Given the negative consequences the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to both the physical and mental health, there is a growing need to find the ways how to support and strengthen psychological resilience and mental health of the individuals in such an unprecedent situation. Consequently, this thesis explores the A. Antonovsky's salutogenetic model of health with a focus on the concepts of sense of coherence (SOC) and sense of national coherence (SONC) as potential predictors of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic. In the theoretical part, the topic of mental health, it's coneptualisation and predictors are presented, with an emphasis on the concepts of SOC and SONC. Additionally, the review of present research on mental health during COVID-19 pandemic is included. The research project analyses the data obtained through an online survey as a part of an international research study investigating the predictive factors of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection in Czech sample was conducted in December 2020 and January 2021, using the Mental Health Continuum, SOC-13 and SONC scales. The sample included 476 participants. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the SOC as a significant predictor of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic among Czech sample. However, the predictive value...

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Bakgrund: Implanterbar defibrillator (ICD) är en medicinsk teknisk dosa som bryter livshotande arytmier med en defibrillering. För personer med en förhöjd risk att få ett plötsligt hjärtstopp kan ICD:n vara en direkt livräddande behandling. I dag finns närmare 7800 personer i Sverige som har ICD, vilket är en grupp som stadigt ökar i antal. Syfte: Att beskriva patienters upplevelser av att leva med implanterbar defibrillator. Metod: Litteraturöversikt som baseras på elva vetenskapliga artiklar som analyserats utifrån Fribergs mall för kvalitativ ansats. Resultat: Ur analysen framkom tre huvudteman, Att tappa kontrollen över livet, Ett förändrat liv med begränsningar och en andra chans med sju subteman. Resultatet visar på att patienter med ICD upplever en förändrad livssituation som påverkar dem på ett fysiskt, psykiskt och socialt plan. Reaktioner som osäkerhet, rädsla och oro är vanliga känslor som patienterna upplever. Flera av patienterna utvecklar även ett undvikande beteende på grund av rädsla för tillslag från ICD;n vilket leder till att livskvalité påverkas negativt. Allteftersom som tiden fortskrider så minskas de negativa följderna av behandlingen och de flesta av patienterna känner en djup tacksamhet till att ha fått en andra chans till livet. Diskussion: Sjuksköterskan behöver kunskap om de förändringar och begränsningar som det innebär att leva med en ICD. Samlivet, den fysiska förmågan och arbetslivet påverkas och sjuksköterskan behöver informera om dessa områden för att kunna stötta patienten att anpassa sig till det nya livet. Slutsats: Majoriteten av ICD-bärarna upplever en rädsla för inadekvata tillslag, ovisshet och osäkerhet när ett tillslag kommer att uppstå ligger till grund för de begränsningar patienterna upplever. Sjuksköterskor kommer allt oftare möta denna kategori av patienter vilket gör att det är viktigt med kunskap om deras upplevelser för att kunna möta dem och ge en korrekt vård. / Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a technological medical controller that interrupts life-threatening arrhythmias with an electrical shock. The ICD could have a direct life-saving impact for persons that have an increased risk to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. About 7800 people have ICD in Sweden currently, however the group is steadily increasing in numbers. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the patients' experiences of living with implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Method: Literature overview that is based on eleven scientific articles analyzed based on Friberg’s template for qualitative approach. Findings: Three main topics arose from the analysis after working to the results, To lose control over life, A change life with limitations and A second chance with seven sub-themes. The results points at the patients with ICD goes through a change in their life situation, which affects them at a physical, psychical and social level. Reactions such as insecurity, fear and anxiety are common emotions the patients will feel. Many of the patients will also develop an avoidance behavior because of fear for an electrical shock from the ICD, that will lead to an adverse effect on their quality of life. The negative effects of the treatment will be reduced as time goes on and most of the patients will feel a deeper gratitude to having a second chance to life. Discussion: The nurse needs to know about the changes and limitations that are involved living with an ICD. The co-habitation, the physical ability and the ability to work are all affected and the nurse need to inform the patients about these changes in order to support them to adjust to this new way of life. Conclusion: The majority of ICD-carriers are experiencing a fear of inadequate electrical shock, uncertainty and insecurity when a electrical shock will occur is the basis for the restrictions that patients experiences. Nurses in Swedish healthcare system will encounter this group of patients more often and that makes it crucial that nurses have knowledge about their experiences in order to meet them and give proper care.

Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka om det fanns någon association mellan deltagande i kulturella aktiviteter och känsla av sammanhang bland äldre personer på två äldreboenden. Metod: Ett frågeformulär baserat på Antonovskys SOC-13-formulär med tillagda egenformulerade frågor, såsom kön, ålder, deltagande i kulturella aktiviteter och funktionsnivå användes.  Frågeformuläret delades ut till 76 personer över 65 år utan demenssjukdom på två äldreboenden i mellansverige och besvarades av 40 respondenter. Materialet bearbetades och analyserades i statistikprogrammet SPSS, där beskrivande statistik framställdes och ett chi-två-test samt en logistisk regression genomfördes. Resultat: Ingen statistiskt signifikant association mellan deltagande i kulturella aktiviteter och känsla av sammanhang fanns. Däremot fanns en association mellan funktionsnivå och KASAM-poäng.  Ju lägre funktionsnivå, det vill säga ju mer hjälp respondenten behövde i sin vardag, desto lägre känsla av sammanhang tenderade respondenten att ha. Slutsats: Funktionsnivå verkade ha högre inverkan på en individs känsla av sammanhang än deltagande i kulturella aktiviteter i den givna studiepopulationen. / Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was any association between participation in cultural activities and sense of coherence among seniors living in two nursing homes. Methods: A questionnaire based on Antonovskys SOC-13-questionaire was used, with added self-formulated questions including gender, age, level of physical function and participation in cultural activities. The questionnaire was distributed to 76 people 65 years and older without dementia at two nursing homes in central Sweden and 40 respondents answered the questionnaire. The material was processed and analyzed in the statistic computer program SPSS, where descriptive statistics were prepared and a chi-square analysis and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: No statistically significant relationship between participation in cultural activities and sense of coherence could be seen. However, there was a correlation between the level of function and SOC scores. The lower level of function, i.e. the more help the respondent needed in everyday life, the lower sense of coherence. Conclusion: Functional level seems to have greater impact on an individual's sense of coherence than participation in cultural activities in the given study population.

In the following essay, I will present my fieldwork that I've conducted in Radhakund India. For three weeks I was living in a hindu monastery (eg. ashram) that primarily houses a group of swedes who have formerly suffered from substance-abuse and have gone through medical detoxification, rehabilitation and 12-step treatment. They have all eventually taken up the religious/spiritual practice that the monastery focuses on; meditative and ritual practice in the tradition of gaudiya-vaishnavism. The monastery, namned Bhajan Kutir Ashram, was formed by the psychologist and author Torbjörn Fjellström, who himself is a practitioneer of gaudiya-vaishnavism. Besides rituals and meditation, pilgrimage to Radhakund is part of the religious practice and tradition these people adhere to. My ambition has been to investigate if their religious/spiritual practice in this tradition has been helpful in their recovery. My conclusion is that they have recovered through the cognitive and emotive tools, analytically called Sense of Coherence (SOC) that are found both in the 12-step treatment and the gaudiya-vaishnava-tradition. While the 12-step treatment has helped the respondents to recover from substance-abuse, their religious/spiritual practice in the context of gaudiya-vaishnavism is seen as a natural continuation of the 12 steps and a deepening of its principles. Another theoretical conclusion drawn from the material is that the way the respondents describe recovery, is practically impossible to separate from their religious/spiritual practice and perspectives.

Abstrakt Bakgrund: Antonovskys sense of coherence (SOC)/känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) är ett globalt använt begrepp. Mätverktyget SOC-skalan som förekommer i minst 15 olika versioner används inom många olika vetenskapliga studier. Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att beskriva vilka perspektiv och huvudsakliga resultat som lyfts fram i samtida svensk vetenskaplig forskning kring stress som använder SOC-begreppet och SOC-skalan. Metod: Text- och innehållsanalys av forskningsfokus och perspektiv i de senaste fem årens vetenskapliga studier kring stress och sense of coherence i Sverige. Resultat: SOC-skalan används i studier med olika design inom många olika forskningsområden. Dominerande perspektiv i samtida svensk forskning med SOC-skalan som huvudsakligt eller kompletterande verktyg är det holistiska perspektivet, individperspektivet, genusperspektivet samt föräldraperspektivet. Diskussion: SOC-skalans vetenskapliga användning speglar dagens svenska samhälls- och diskussionsklimat. SOC-skalans validitet och reliabilitet förblir föremål för diskussion, då olika versioner av SOC-skalan ger olika resultat och olika möjligheter till analys. / Abstract Background: Antonovsky’s sense of coherence (SOC) is a globally used concept. The SOC scale tool exists in at least 15 different versions and is used in many different scientific studies. The aim of this literature review is to describe which perspectives and main results are highlighted in contemporary Swedish research concerning stress that uses the SOC concept and the SOC scale. Method: Text and content analysis concerning research focus and perspectives in scientific studies concerning stress and sense of coherence in Sweden in the last five years. Results: The SOC scale is used in studies of different designs within many different fields of research. Dominating perspectives in contemporary Swedish research using the SOC scale as a main or complementary tool are the holistic perspective, the individual perspective, the gender perspective and the parental perspective. Discussion: The scientific use of the SOC scale reflects the social discussion climate in Sweden of today. The validity and reliability of the SOC scale remain subjects of discussion, as different versions of the SOC scale give different results and different analyzing possibilities.