Sense of Coherence and Subjective Well-Being among Adolescents – The Potential Impact of Living in a Dormitory Compared to Living with Family

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the sense of coherence (SOC) and subjective well-being (SWB) as a health promoting resource among adolescents living with parents and those living in dormitories. There were 442 adolescent responders, yielding a response rate of 84.3%. The SOC was measured using the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, while SWB was obtained from the Personal Wellbeing Index. There were no significant differences between the group living with parents and the group living in dormitories in SOC (128.3 and 129.4, respectively; p=0.580) and SWB (78.0 and 78.9, respectively; p=0.537). A significant difference was found between the genders. Boys had a higher SOC, both those living with parents (131.7 and 124.9, respectively; p=0.014) and those living in dormitories (136.5 and 124.5, respectively; p=0.001), and a higher SWB when living in dormitories (83.4 and 75.8, respectively; p=0.001). Adolescents with better socioeconomic status had a significantly higher SWB if living with parents (76.7 and 85.5, respectively; p=0.003), whereas no difference was found in the dormitory group (78.5 vs. 83.4; p=0.241). The SOC was strongly and positively associated with SWB (correlation coefficient 0.63; p=0.001) and was a key predictor of adolescent SWB (R2=0.373). These findings may prove helpful in future planning and supportive work in schools and dormitories to improve student health.

Keywords

• Adolescence
• Students
• Sense of coherence
• Subjective well-being