Psychometric properties of the sense of coherence scale: a cross-sectional study in Spain and Latin America

Antonovsky postulates that the Sense of Coherence (SOC) is key to managing stress and maintaining well-being. He developed the Sense of Coherence Scale, used in different languages, although research has yielded heterogeneous results on its internal structure. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the SOC-13 scale in adults from 11 Spanish-speaking countries, paying special attention to the influence of negatively worded items. Data from 22,844 participants (66.1% women) were collected between March and August 2020. Participants completed the SOC-13, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and a self-perceived health item. Results indicated that traditional models of the scale did not show adequate fit. However, when the method effect associated with negatively worded items was considered, the expected three-factor structure showed good model fit across countries. Higher SOC scores were associated with lower psychological distress and better self-perceived health. This is the first multinational study to examine the psychometric properties of the SOC-13 scale across 11 Spanish-speaking countries, providing new evidence supporting the adequacy of its internal structure. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of systematically accounting for the method effect when evaluating the dimensionality of psychological scales.