Enhancing Sense of Coherence and Mindfulness in an Ecclesiastical, Intercultural Group Training Context

Abstract

Sense of coherence (SOC) and mindfulness (MI) are believed to promote the health and well-being of individuals and organisations. The aim of this longitudinal study was to contribute to the literature on the development of SOC through training and interventions and thereby explore the development of these constructs in a group of senior professionals in the German Catholic Church. A sample of eight participants voluntarily enrolled for a 12-day training programme spread over a period of nine months to develop intercultural and inter-religious competencies, SOC and MI. Quantitative scores of the pre- and post-test SOC and MI questionnaires were qualitatively analysed. Results indicate that the majority of participants scored lower in the post-test on SOC and slightly higher in MI. The discussion explores the pitfalls in the development of these constructs in the study's participants and highlights the implications for theory and practice. Practical training implications for developing SOC and MI are offered.

Utilizing Compassion-Focused Therapy Integrated with Mobile Technology: A Therapeutic Approach to Improve Sense of Coherence in Visually Impaired Students

“…The current study concluded that compassion-focused therapy is effective in improving feelings of coherence, as supported by other studies [22], [31], [39], which indicated that the sense of coherence can be enhanced through various therapeutic approaches. Compassion-focused therapy is an effective approach to enhancing self-compassion and personal agency among university students, as well as to improving psychological well-being [13].…”