[Sense of coherence, personality and style of coping by patients suffering from depressive disorders]

At present increasing medical attention is paid to the salutogenesis approach suggested by Aaron Antonovsky. The main focus of interest in the approach is the sense of coherence.

The aim of the study was to define the sense of coherence and the mutual condition linked between this sense and some personality traits within an individual, including the styles of coping by men and women suffering from depression.

The research included the use of a SOC-29 questionnaire, NEO-FFI test and Moos' test. The research was conducted on 69 patients recognized to have suffered from depression. The patients were in treatment at The Psychiatric and Neurosis Disorder Clinic with Critical Intervention Ward, Medical University of Lódź.

1) A sense of coherence within an individual is considerably stronger in male patients. 2) Males and females differ in the realm of particular personality traits and the ways of dealing with every day problems. 3) Character traits and the ways to handle stressful situations differ among individuals in respects to the sense of coherence level within an individual.