The Reliability and Predictive Validity of Sense of Coherence Scale for American Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

Abstract

This study investigated the reliability and predictive validity of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale for 299 American survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). First, confirmatory factor analysis examined the construct validity of the SOC-13. Then, relationships between SOC and clinical scales were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3-factor solution, and Cronbach's alpha reliability values for comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness subscales and total score of SOC-13 were: .62, .53, .65, and .81, respectively. Multiple regression revealed that age, posttraumatic growth, depression, and posttraumatic stress scores explained 53% of the variance of SOC scores. We interpret this to suggest that SOC is a protective factor in GBV, especially in younger women. Clinical implications are suggested.

Socially excluded young adult Israeli women’s social activism: A new approach to promoting well-being.

“…For some of these women, who had experienced trauma, the program facilitated a process of healing which allowed them to feel a sense of triumph and view their previous experiences of victimization in a new light. This transformative perspective fostered a greater sense of purpose and worth in their lives (Bairey Ben Ishay & Gigi, 2019; Zonp & Saint Arnault, 2023). This aligns with the concept of posttraumatic growth, that is, the positive changes that can occur following a traumatic event.…”