Does Sense of Coherence Protect Against Burnout and Maintain Health?

Despite the strength of discourse and debate in relation to burnout and health status among mental healthcare professionals, there has been limited research in finding resources that protect against job burnout and maintain health. The purpose of this study was to investigate if sense of coherence (SOC) has an effect on job burnout and health status among 91 psychiatric nurses working on four closed units. The researcher assessed their levels of SOC using Antonovsky's Orientation to Life Questionnaire, job burnout levels using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey, and health status levels using the Rand Medical Outcome Survey Short Form Scale. The findings partially confirmed the hypothesis that a significant relationship exists between SOC and job burnout. There was a significant relationship between some of the components of SOC and health status.