[Sense of coherence in female patients with bulimia nervosa: a protective factor of mental health?].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to examine the occurrence of sense of coherence (SOC) and the relationship between SOC and anxiety, depression, somatoform complaints and life satisfaction in female bulimia nervosa (BN) outpatients.

METHODS

In a consecutive cross-sectional study 73 BN outpatients (age 26.9 years, SD 7.8) were assesssed with the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D), and the Screening for Somatoform Disorders (SOMS-2).

RESULTS

The BN outpatients showed highly reduced SOC in comparison to the reference group (M = 45.09 vs. M = 71.23; p < or = 0.001). SOC significantly correlated inversely with depression and somatoform complaints. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between SOC and life satisfaction (r = 0.467; p < or = 0.001). Interestingly, SOC was not significantly correlated with anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the thesis that female BN outpatients could benefit from an enhancement of SOC particularly with regard to depression and somatoform complaints.