Senso de coerência e sua relação com comportamentos em saúde e saúde mental em adultos pertencentes à coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas de 1982

Abstract

Sense of coherence (SOC) is a central concept in the salutogenic model and seeks to explain why some people are better able to cope with adverse situations than others. Evidence suggests that higher levels of SOC are associated with better mental health outcomes, healthier behaviors, and lower prevalence of mental disorders. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the association between sense of coherence, health behaviors, substance use, and mental health, using data from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort, when participants were 40 years old. The first article of the thesis comprised a systematic review with meta-analysis on the association between SOC and substance use in adults. Individuals with higher SOC were less likely to smoke, engage in excessive alcohol consumption, or use other substances. The second article investigated the association between SOC and health behaviors at age 40, including leisure-time physical activity, consumption of ultra-processed foods, smoking, harmful alcohol use, and illicit drug use. The results showed that individuals with higher SOC had a lower prevalence of smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, and high consumption of ultra-processed foods, even after adjusting for confounding factors. The third article assessed the association between SOC and mental health outcomes, including common mental disorders, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Individuals with higher SOC showed a significantly lower prevalence of all evaluated outcomes, even after controlling for socioeconomic conditions, psychosocial factors, and previous mental health history. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis reinforce the protective role of sense of coherence in mental health and health behaviors, suggesting that strengthening this resource may contribute to health promotion throughout the life course