Sense of coherence in a Thai sample.

This is the first large epidemiological study of the Sense of Coherence concept carried out in a non-western culture. One adult from each of 456 families living in northern Thailand filled in the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC) and checklists measuring anxiety, depression and self-esteem. The mean value for SOC was comparable with western studies. High SOC was related to high self-esteem and low distress scores in the parents. The same associations were found between parental SOC and the perceived competence and behaviour problems of the children. High SOC acted as a protective factor in high socio-economic stress situations.