Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To examine the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and physical health-related quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses by focusing on the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.Design
Cross-sectional survey design.Setting
Secondary care; three departments of an Italian university hospital.Methods
The participants (n=209) in the study were adult (?18 years) outpatients with a chronic pathology (eg, diabetes, thyroid disorders or cancer) at any phase in the care trajectory (eg, pre-treatment, undergoing treatment, follow-up care). They agreed to participate in the study after providing their informed consent. Data were collected using a structured self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS, and mediation analysis was performed via PROCESS macro.Results
The SOC score of the study sample was equivalent to that of the general population (mean difference=-2.50, 95% CI -4.57 to 0.00). Correlation analysis showed that SOC was mainly correlated to the mental component (MCS) (r=0.51, p<0.01) of quality of life and then to the physical component (PCS) (r=0.35, p<0.01). Mediation analysis showed that SOC was directly related to MCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99) but not to PCS (p=0.42, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.12). In turn, MCS was directly related to PCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.01). The indirect effect of SOC on PCS through MCS was significant (0.71, p<0.001, bootstrap 95% CI 0.54 to 0.91), thus supporting the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.Conclusion
The indirect effect suggests that SOC is a marker of quality of life, especially of the mental component. The findings show that SOC is a psychological process that impacts patients' mental health status, which in turn affects physical health. Better knowledge of a person's SOC and how it affects his/her quality of life may help to plan tailoring interventions to strengthen SOC and improve health-related quality of life.
SUBMITTER: Galletta M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6756344 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Galletta Maura M Cherchi Manuela M Cocco Alice A Lai Giacomo G Manca Valentina V Pau Martina M Tatti Federica F Zambon Giorgia G Deidda Simona S Origa Pierangelo P Massa Elena E Cossu Efisio E Boi Francesco F Contu Paolo P
BMJ open 20190917 9
<h4>Objective</h4>To examine the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and physical health-related quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses by focusing on the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional survey design.<h4>Setting</h4>Secondary care; three departments of an Italian university hospital.<h4>Methods</h4>The participants (n=209) in the study were adult (≥18 years) outpatients with a chronic pathology (eg, diabetes, thyroid ...[more]