Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC)

Abstract

The Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC) scale is a 26-item psychological instrument developed by Aaron Antonovsky and T. Sourani based on Antonovsky’s theory of Salutogenesis. The scale is designed to measure the extent to which a family unit perceives its internal and external environment as structured, predictable, and meaningful—a core indicator of family resilience and the ability to cope with stressors. The FSOC assesses the family’s overall orientation toward life, predicting their capacity for effective adaptation and resource utilization during crises. It is frequently utilized in conjunction with the Family Adaptation Scale (FAS) to provide a comprehensive view of family functioning.

Keywords

Family Sense of Coherence, FSOC, Salutogenesis, Family Adaptation, Comprehensibility, Manageability, Meaningfulness, Family Resilience, Coping mechanisms, Family systems theory.

Authors

Aaron Antonovsky, T. Sourani.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the FSOC scale is to quantify the strength of a family unit’s collective coping mechanism, conceptualized through the lens of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) construct. It provides a measure of how consistently family members view their shared life experiences as coherent, predictable, and worth investing energy in. This measurement is crucial for understanding the processes by which families maintain health and well-being despite exposure to adverse life events.

In clinical and research settings, the FSOC is used to evaluate the family’s capacity to function effectively and predict family adaptation outcomes. A high FSOC score suggests that the family possesses the internal resources and orientation necessary to navigate typical developmental challenges and unexpected crises, making it a valuable tool for preventative psychological research and intervention planning.

Construct

The FSOC measures the family’s global orientation to the world, reflecting the three core components of Antonovsky’s original Sense of Coherence model, adapted specifically for the family system:

• Comprehensibility: This dimension assesses the degree to which the family environment is perceived as structured, predictable, and clear. A family with high comprehensibility understands the rules, roles, and anticipated outcomes of events (e.g., clarity regarding finances, jobs, or household order).
• Manageability: This reflects the extent to which family members perceive that they possess the necessary resources (both internal, like skills and knowledge, and external, like social support) to meet the demands posed by the environment. High manageability implies a collective belief that challenges are solvable and resources are available.
• Meaningfulness: This is the motivational component, measuring the degree to which family life is felt to be emotionally significant, worthwhile, and deserving of investment and commitment. Challenges are viewed as challenges to be met, rather than burdens to be endured, ensuring the family strives to cope effectively.

Validity

The validity of the FSOC is fundamentally linked to the extensive empirical support for the parent construct, Antonovsky’s individual Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, which has demonstrated strong construct validity across diverse populations globally (Eriksson & Lindstrom, 2006). The FSOC scale itself was developed to demonstrate concurrent validity by showing significant positive correlations with measures of positive family adaptation and functioning, as established in the seminal work by Antonovsky and Sourani (1988).

The instrument exhibits conceptual validity as its items directly translate the three theoretical components of SOC—Comprehensibility, Manageability, and Meaningfulness—into the context of family dynamics, roles, and shared experiences. Its consistent use in studies linking family coherence to positive health outcomes and resilience further supports its predictive validity across various stress models.

Reliability

The FSOC scale is reported to possess acceptable internal consistency, consistent with the psychometric properties of the original SOC instrument. While specific Cronbach’s alpha values for the 1988 validation sample are often detailed in subsequent academic reviews, the scale’s structural consistency confirms that the 26 items reliably measure a unified, yet multi-dimensional, construct of family orientation. The systematic grouping of items into the three subscales (Comprehensibility, Manageability, and Meaningfulness) contributes to the instrument’s structural reliability.

Factor Analysis

The Family Sense of Coherence scale is designed to be scored both as a single, overall measure of coherence and as three distinct subscale scores, corresponding to the theoretical components of the construct. The factor structure is as follows:

• Comprehensibility: This factor is measured by 8 items (1, 4, 7, 14, 15, 18, 21, and 24). These items assess the family’s perception of clarity, order, and predictability in their daily lives and planning (e.g., clear rules, financial planning).
• Manageability: This factor is measured by 9 items (2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 20, and 22). These items assess the family’s collective belief in their ability to cope with demands and access the necessary resources to solve problems (e.g., adjusting to new situations, overcoming difficulties).
• Meaningfulness: This factor is measured by 9 items (6, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 23, 25, and 26). This factor captures the family’s sense of purpose, commitment, and the perception that their life together is emotionally worthwhile and deserving of effort, even in the face of significant adversity.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire / Psychometric scale

Format: 26 items. Responses are typically recorded on a 7-point Likert-type semantic differential scale, anchored by opposing statements (e.g., “full understanding” to “no understanding”). Items marked with an asterisk (*) require reverse scoring for total score calculation.

Language Available: English (developed/published 1988), and widely translated into various languages following the international dissemination of Antonovsky’s work.

Population Group: Family members (assessing their perception of the family unit’s coherence).

Age Group: Typically administered to adults or older adolescents capable of reflecting on complex family dynamics.

Population Details: Used across diverse family structures and cultural backgrounds in clinical, psychological, and sociological research settings.

Test Methodology: Scores are calculated by summing the responses across all 26 items (after reversing the scores for designated items). Higher cumulative scores indicate a stronger Family Sense of Coherence.

Keywords

Family health, psychological measurement, Aaron Antonovsky, coping resources, family systems theory, psychological instruments, clinical assessment, resilience.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1988 (Based on primary publication by Antonovsky & Sourani)

Permissions and Fee: The scale was published in academic journals and subsequently collected in sourcebooks for clinical measures. While the core concept of SOC is widely referenced, specific licensing or permission fees for clinical use should be verified with the current copyright holders or publishers (e.g., Oxford University Press, for the sourcebook edition). Academic use is often permitted, provided proper citation is given.

The original PDF of the instrument can be downloaded here: http://psych.wfu.edu/furr/362/Family%20Sense%20of%20Coherence%20Scale.pdf

Reference’s

• Antonovsky, A. (1993). The structure and properties of the sense of coherence scale. Social Science & Medicine, 36(6), 725-733.
• Antonovsky, A. (1987, 1997). Sense of Coherence Scale. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 245-250. (2013).
• Antonovsky, A., & Sourani, T. (1988). Family sense of coherence and family adaptation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 79-92.
• Antonovsky, A., & Sourani, T. (1988). Family sense of coherence (FSOC) and family adaptation scales (FAS). In Fischer, Joel., Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page (s): 323-328.
• Eriksson, M., and Lindstrom, B. (2006). Validity of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence scale: a systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 60(5): 376–381.
• Ostrander, Diane L., Henry, Carolyn S. (1993). Measuring Adaptation in Ministers’ Families: The Modified Family Adaptation Scale. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Family Relations (Baltimore, MD, 1993).

Items of the Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. Is there a feeling in your family that everyone understands everyone else well? * (There’s full understanding among all family members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 There’s no understanding among family members.)

2. When you have to get things done which depend on cooperation among all members of the family‚ your feeling is: (there’s almost no chance that the things will get done 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the things will always get done)

3. Do you have the feeling that it’s always possible‚ in your family‚ to get help one from another when a problem arises? (you can always get help from all family members … you can’t get help from family members)*

4. Let’s assume that unexpected guests are about to arrive and the house isn’t set up to receive them. Does it seem to you that: (the job will fall on one person 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 all the members of the family will pitch in to get the house ready)

5. In case an important decision has to be taken which concerns the whole family‚ do you have the feeling that (a decision will always be taken that’s for the good of all family members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the decision that will be taken won’t be for the good of all family members)*

6. Family life seems to you (full of interest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 totally routine)*

7. Does it happen that someone in the family feels as if it isn’t clear to him/her what his/her jobs are in the house? (this feeling exists all the time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 this feeling exists very rarely)

8. When a problem comes up in the family (like: unusual behavior of a family member‚ an unexpected overdraft in the bank account‚ being fired from work‚ unusual tension)‚ do you think that you can together clarify how it happened? (very little chance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 to a great extent)

9. Many people‚ even those with a strong ch‎aracter‚ sometimes feel like sad sacks (losers). In the past‚ has there been a feeling like this in your family? (there’s never been a feeling like this in the family1 2 3 4 5 6 7 this feeling always exists)*

10.Think of a situation in which your family moved to a new house. Does it seem to you that (all family members would be able to adjust easily to the new situation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 it would be very hard for family members to adjust to the new situation)*

11.Let’s assume that your family has been annoyed by something in your neighborhood. Does it seem to you that (nothing can be done to prevent the annoyance1 2 3 4 5 6 7 it’s possible to do a great deal to prevent the annoyance)

12.Until now your family life has had (no clear goals or purpose at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 very clear goals and purpose)

13.When you think about your family life‚ you very often (feel how good it is to be alive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ask yourself why the family exists)*

14.Let’s say you’re tired‚ disappointed‚ angry‚ or the like. Does it seem to you that all the members of the family will sense your feelings? (no one will sense my feelings … all the family members will sense my feelings)

15.Do you sometimes feel that there’s no clear and sure knowledge of what’s going to happen in the family? (there’s no such feeling at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 there’s always a feeling like this)*

16.When the family faces a tough problem‚ the feeling is (there’s no hope of overcoming the difficulties 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 we’ll overcome it all)

17.To succeed in things that are important to the family or to one of you (isn’t important in the family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 is a very important thing for all family members)

18.To what extent does it seem to you that family rules are clear? (the rules in the family are completely clear 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the rules aren’t clear at all)*

19.When something very difficult happened in your family (like a critical illness of a family member)‚ the feeling was (there’s no point in going on living in the family … this is a challenge to go on living in the family despite everything)

20.When you think of possible difficulties in important areas of family life‚ is the feeling (there are many problems which have no solution … it’s possible in every case to find a solution)

21.Think of your feeling about the extent of planning money matters in your family (there’s full planning of money matters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 there’s no planning about money matters at all in the family)*

22.When you’re in the midst of a rough period‚ does the family (always feel cheered up by the thought about better things that can happen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 feel disappointed and despairing about life)*

23.Does it happen that you feel that there’s really not much meaning in maintaining the family framework? (we always have this feeling 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 we’ve never had a feeling like this in our family)

24.Think of your feeling about the extent of order in your home. Is the case that (the house is well-ordered 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the house isn’t at all ordered)*

25.Let’s assume that your family is the target of criticism in the neighborhood. Does it seem to you that your reactions will be (the whole family will join together against the criticism1 2 3 4 5 6 7 family members will move apart from each other)*

26.To what extent do family members share sad experiences with each other? (there’s complete sharing with all family members … we don’t share our sad experiences with family members)*