Psychological resistance factors as predictors of general health status and physical symptom reporting

Abstract

The ability of the psychological resistance factors Sense of Coherence (SOC) and dispositional Optimism (LOT-R) to predict physical symptom reporting (PILL), psychological wellbeing (MHI-5) and perceived general health (SF-36®), over and above demographic variables (age, race, gender) and the 'Big Five' personality dimensions (NEO-FFI®) was explored in a sample of 202 undergraduate students. Hierarchical regression analyses identified race, Neuroticism, and Extraversion as significant predictors of physical symptom reporting. Neuroticism, Sense of Coherence and Optimism were identified as significant predictors of psychological wellbeing. Only Sense of Coherence was a significant predictor of perceived general health. Coping was tested as a mediator using structural equation modeling. Avoidance coping, but not approach coping, mediated the relationship between Sense of Coherence and psychological wellbeing and general health. Coping did not mediate the relationship between Neuroticism and/or race and physical symptom reporting. The hypothesis that Sense of Coherence contributes uniquely to perceived health was supported.