Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship among depression, self-esteem, and sense of coherence (SOC) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to propose strategies for mitigating depression.

Background: Depression in patients with PD is the factor that most affects quality of life; thus, prevention is important. The self-esteem of patients with chronic diseases is affected by various experiences related to their illness. SOC, as proposed by sociologist Antonovsky, has attracted attention as a stress-coping ability. SOC is thought to be related to self-esteem and depression; however, the relationship remains to be elucidated.

Method: A survey was conducted using anonymous self-administered questionnaires on 211 patients with PD. The K6, developed by Kessler et al. and translated into Japanese by Furukawa et al., was used to assess depression. The 13-item Short Form SOC scale, developed by Antonovsky and translated into Japanese by Yamazaki et al., was used to assess SOC. It is composed of three subscales: comprehensibility (the ability to understand one’s situation as something that can be predicted), meaningfulness (the ability to find meaning in one’s situation), and manageability (the ability to feel that one can manage a difficult situation). We created a model and conducted path analysis. SPSS Base System 28.0 and Amos 28.0 were used for data analysis. The study was approved by the Nagoya City University Ethics Review Committee.

Results: A total of 211 questionnaires were distributed, and 171 valid responses (response rate 81%) were received. The results of the analysis showed that high self-esteem (β = −.25, p < .001), high comprehensibility (β = −.30, p < .001), and high manageability (β = −.18, p < .001) were directly related to low depression. In addition, meaningfulness and manageability were indirectly related to depression through self-esteem. Duration of illness was not significantly related to any of the variables. The model demonstrated a good fit (GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.90, and CFI = 0.96), meeting the criteria for statistical validity.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that enhancing self-esteem and SOC may contribute to reducing depression in individuals with PD. Furthermore, self-esteem and SOC are key factors that should be focused on to promote mental health.

Depression, Self-Esteem and Sense of Coherence

References: 1) Antonovsky A. Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well. Jossey-Bass,1987.
2) Togari T, Yamazaki Y. Examination of the reliability and factor validity of 13-item five-point version sense of coherence scale. Jpn J Health Hum Ecol. 71: 168-182. doi: 10.3861/jshhe.71.168, 2005
3) Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press , 1965.
4) Kessler RC ei al. Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:184–189,2003
5) Furukawa TA, et al. The performance of the Japanese version of the K6 and K10 in the World Mental Health Survey Japan. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 17:152-158, 2008

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-relationship-among-depression-self-esteem-and-sense-of-coherence-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/