The sense of coherence and sense of satisfaction with life in patients hospitalized in Polish and Irish surgical departments.

BACKGROUND The concept of the sense of coherence (SOC) - the global orientation of life, created by Aaron Antonovsky - is increasingly popular. This study within the field of health psychology examines the situation of patients awaiting surgery in Poland and Ireland. OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between the strength of the SOC and its components (comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness) and the level of satisfaction with life (SWL) of patients hospitalized in surgical departments in hospitals in Poland and Ireland. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research was conducted in a group of 60 surgical patients, including 30 hospitalized in Poland and 30 in Ireland. The tools utilized were the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire for Adults SOC-29 and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Polish versions of both questionnaires were also used. RESULTS We obtained the following results:- for comprehensibility: in patients undergoing surgery in hospitals in Poland, the mean (M) = 46.3, standard deviation (SD) = 9.8, minimum value (Min) = 28, and maximum value (Max) = 63; in Irish patients, M = 50.8, SD = 9.2,Min = 33, and Max = 71;- for manageability: in patients undergoing surgery in hospitals in Poland, the M = 49.7, SD = 5.07, Min = 37, and Max = 58; in Irish patients, M = 49.3 SD = 6.39, Min = 38, and Max = 63;- for meaningfulness: in patients undergoing surgery in hospitals in Poland, M = 45.5, SD = 4.24, Min = 37, and Max = 54; in Irish patients, M = 44.9 SD = 5.74, Min = 34, and Max = 56. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study confirmed the assumption that a general SOC correlates with SWL. However, they did not confirm the hypothesis that differences in the strength of patients' SOC, its components and their level of SWL depend on the country of hospitalization.