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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

Sense of coherence and diabetes: A prospective occupational cohort study

Authors: Anne M Kouvonen, Ari Väänänen, Stephen A Woods, Tarja Heponiemi, Aki Koskinen, Salla Toppinen-Tanner

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

Sense of coherence (SOC) is an individual characteristic related to a positive life orientation leading to effective coping. A weak SOC has been associated with indicators of general morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between SOC and diabetes has not been studied in prospective design. The present study prospectively examined the relationship between a weak SOC and the incidence of diabetes.

Methods

The relationship between a weak SOC and the incidence of diabetes was investigated among 5827 Finnish male employees aged 18–65 at baseline (1986). SOC was measured by questionnaire survey at baseline. Data on prescription diabetes drugs from 1987 to 2004 were obtained from the Drug Imbursement Register held by the Social Insurance Institution.

Results

During the follow-up, 313 cases of diabetes were recorded. A weak SOC was associated with a 46% higher risk of diabetes in participants who had been =<50 years of age on entry into the study. This association was independent of age, education, marital status, psychological distress, self-rated health, smoking status, binge drinking and physical activity. No similar association was observed in older employees.

Conclusion

The results suggest that besides focusing on well-known risk factors for diabetes, strengthening SOC in employees of =<50 years of age can also play a role in attempts to tackle increasing rates of diabetes.
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Metadata
Title
Sense of coherence and diabetes: A prospective occupational cohort study
Authors
Anne M Kouvonen
Ari Väänänen
Stephen A Woods
Tarja Heponiemi
Aki Koskinen
Salla Toppinen-Tanner
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-46

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