One’s confidence in their ability to control events and contribute to anxiety affects anxiety levels.
In a Japanese national online survey (n=2100) the relationship between anxiety and sense of coherence (SOC) was examined. SOC is an individual’s confidence in being able to control events and cope with challenges. Approximately one in five Japanese adults were found to suffer from anxiety, as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. The prevalence of anxiety was found to be higher among participants with low SOC, suggesting that SOC is a significant risk factor for anxiety. SOC is hence a promising target for intervention, though further research with a clinically anxious sample is needed. It also needs to be determined which components of SOC have the most impact on anxiety.
doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.08.006
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