Salutogenesis — protective factors for individuals brought up in a high-risk environment with regard to the risk for a psychiatric or social disorder

Abstract

This is a salutogenetic study focusing on how to cope successfully with the handicapping background of a high-risk childhood. In 1947 these persons took part in the “Lundby study” and were followed up in 1957 and 1972. of those aged 0-15 years in 1947, 221 persons with three or more childhood psychiatric risk factors were identified. Personal interviews were conducted with 148 of them in 1988-9. Eight questionnaires were used: the Sense of Coherence, the Symptom Distress Checklist, the Quality of Life Scale, the Way of Coping Scale, the Locus of Control Scale, the Mastery Scale, the Work Involvement Scale, and the BPE (creativity test). From the interviews a qualitative overall measure of health was made. The Sense of Coherence, the Locus of Control, the Mastery and the Way of Coping (emotional focused) were found to be powerful explanatory variables in managing to overcome their handicapped backgrounds. The result shows that despite difficulties during childhood 34% of the sample managed to live a very good life as adults; 69% had a mental and psychosomatic health at least on the level of “average” people.