The role of support and sense of coherence in dealing with hypertensive disease

Abstract

Background Arterial hypertension is the most common disorder of the circulatory system. It intensifies with age and significantly increases the risk of cardio-vascular complications. Hypertension is a serious problem which certainly influences the quality of life. Aaron Antonovsky defines the sense of coherence (SOC) as general orientation which expresses the degree of a person’s awareness of the predictability of internal and external environment. The aim of the study was to determine the levels of SOC and social support in people with hypertension.
Material and methods The study included 78 patients of Żnin hospital (kujawsko-pomorskie district). Support was assessed using Kmiecik-Baran social support scale and SOC level was estimated using SOC-29 questionnaire.
Results No significant differences were found as far as the global SOC, meaningfulness and manageability were concerned. Comprehensibility level though differed in the examined group. Relationship between support and SOC level was found. Higher SOC level was related to higher level of support.
Conclusions The results may influence the preparation of a patient to self-dependent life with the disease. Estimation of support levels may be used as a determinant of prognosis of care for a patient at different stages of a chronic disease.
Arterial Hypertension 2010, vol. 14, no 5, pages 387-394.