Search

Objectives: To explore whether sense of coherence (SOC) is stable over time after multiple trauma. The associations between SOC and satisfaction with life as a whole, as well as aspects of psychological well-being, were explored. Finally, an overriding aim was to assess whether SOC has long-term prognostic value for global life satisfaction or psychological well-being., Design: Prospective study., Setting: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital., Subjects: Twenty-six subjects with severe multiple trauma, without neuropsychological deficits., Main Outcome Measures: Questionnaires that were answered at admission, at discharge and at follow-up 1-3 years after trauma were: Sense of Coherence Scale 13 items (SOC-13), satisfaction with life as a whole, General Health Questionnaire 20 items (GHQ-20), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD)., Results: While median SOC scores were fairly stable, individual scores were not stable over time, and for some subjects showed large variations. SOC score had neither long-term prognostic value for satisfaction with life as a whole nor for psychological well-being, at least not in the first years after severe multiple trauma. However, SOC was closely associated with overall life satisfaction when measured simultaneously. Furthermore, a weak SOC correlated with scores on psychological distress, anxiety and depression. SOC scores were also significantly related to being or not being in a state of anxiety, but not to being or not being depressed. Global life satisfaction was considerably reduced from before trauma (reported at admission) to the time of follow-up., Conclusion: SOC was not stable over time after severe multiple trauma. SOC measured at admission could neither predict future satisfaction with life as a whole nor future psychological well-being. Measured simultaneously, overall life satisfaction and occurrence of anxiety were significantly associated with SOC.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of self-reported changes in life satisfaction after multiple trauma, to analyse associations between satisfaction with life as a whole and with domains in life, and to identify important contributors for satisfaction with life., Design: Retrospective follow-up study., Setting: Rehabilitation hospital three years after multiple trauma., Subjects: Sixty-nine subjects with severe multiple trauma (ISS > or = 16)., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical examinations to reveal prevalences of impairments and disabilities. Questionnaires about satisfaction with life as a whole and eight domains of life, both for the time before trauma, and for the actual situation; sense of coherence (SOC-13); social network., Results: A total of 87% experienced a decrease in at least one of the nine life satisfaction items from before to after trauma (six-graded scale). After trauma significantly fewer subjects reported to be satisfied with life as a whole, as well as the domains sexual life, ADL, contact with friends, leisure, vocational and financial situation. Satisfaction with family life and partner relationship did not decrease significantly. The most important domains after trauma were satisfaction with leisure, family life and vocation. Vocational and leisure disability after trauma were important determinants for satisfaction with life as a whole. A strong sense of coherence and sufficient social network quality had significant impact on satisfaction with life as a whole and some of the domain-specific satisfactions., Conclusions: Both personal resources (a strong sense of coherence) and the presence of a qualitatively sufficient social network can buffer the negative influence of disabilities on life satisfaction after trauma.

Objective: The aim of this study is to relate different sociodemographic, health and physical activity parameters to levels of satisfaction with life as a whole and with 10 specific domains of life., Design: Data on socio-demographic items were sampled, using strictly structured interviews, while a checklist (LiSat-11) was used for self-reported levels of life satisfaction., Subjects: A nationally representative Swedish sample of 1207 women and 1326 men aged 18-64 years., Results: Univariately most of these socio-demographic variables were associated with several of the LiSat-11 items. Using logistic regression, perceived good health and not being a first generation immigrant were the most prominent positive predictors of satisfaction with life as a whole and of most of the domains. Also educational level impacted predictively on satisfaction with many LiSat-11 items. Furthermore, those who were vocationally active, perceived their financial situation as better than or similar to most people's and had a steady partner relationship were particularly likely to be satisfied with life as a whole and with two or more of the domains., Conclusion: These results indicate that a multitude of aspects must be taken into account when assessing life satisfaction.

Satisfaction with life as a whole and with 10 domains of life was assessed in a nationally representative Swedish sample of 1207 women and 1326 men aged between 18 and 64 years, using a generic self-report checklist (LiSat-11), with levels of satisfaction ranging along a six-grade ordinal scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 6 (very satisfied). The main findings are that, with marginal exceptions, life satisfaction is gender independent, while age is systematically and positively associated with vocational and financial situations. Having no partner and being a first-generation immigrant implies for most LiSat-11 items a relatively low level of satisfaction. Factor analysis of the domain-specific items yields a gender-independent four-factor structure, which is robustly independent of different scaling reductions. Gross levels of satisfaction (dichotomized scales 1-4 vs 5-6) of seven domains were significant classifiers (odds ratio 1.7-3.9) of gross level of satisfaction with life as a whole. This investigation provides reference values for LiSat-11, which, with its ease of administration may be an adequate instrument for analysing, in terms of subjects' cognitive appraisal of emotions, aspirations-achievement gaps.