Relationship of Sense of Coherence to Healthy Behavior in Taekwon-Do Athletes

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between sense of coherence and the level of health behavior among men and women who train Taekwon-Do. The research encompassed 121 (69 men and 53 women) Taekwon-Do athletes. The gauging was conducted by means of standardized tools in the field of health psychology: the Questionnaire of Life Orientation, the Pain Strategies Questionnaire and the Health Behavior Inventory. The registered variables were subjected to typical descriptive analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed. The adjustment of the regression model was checked by ANOVA. The co-dependency between the variables was defined as Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. The results of the sense of coherence are higher for men (36.83 ± 12.45) than women (33.17 ± 10.60). Diverting attention away from feelings and thoughts of pain is strongly correlated with reinterpreting pain sensations (r = 0.75) and is moderately correlated with the behavioral strategy as well as increased behavioral activity (r = 0.46). Constructive mobilization under pressure shows compatibility with resourcefulness (r = 0.44), comprehensibility (r = 0.39) and meaningfulness (r = 0.46). Sex differentiates the intensity of constructive mobilization to act under the impact of stress according to the subjective evaluation of both male and female Taekwon-Do fighters. The intensity of healthy behavior amongst women and men who practice Taekwon-Do differs. In the case of women, the value of the global indicator of healthy behavior was higher than in the case of men. This strategy defined as catastrophizing turned out to be commensurate in a negative way with all the three elements of the sense of coherence. Catastrophizing correlates negatively with the intensity of constructive mobilization for action under stress.