Helen Antonovsky

The development of the sense of coherence: A retrospective study of early life experiences in the family.

This is an exploratory study of the relationship between three sociodemographic variables, four types of life experiences, and the development of the Sense of Coherence (SOC). The study was carried out using semi-structured life-history interviews of eighty-nine retirees whose SOC scores had been obtained in a previous study. The central research question was what kind of experiences within the family context during childhood are related to the development of the SOC. The interviews were scored on ten pre-coded variables derived from four types of life experiences which were hypothesized to shape the SOC: consistency, load balance, participation in shaping outcome, and emotional closeness. In addition, three sociodemographic variables, which were hypothesized to influence the family context by setting limits and offering opportunity for the kinds of interactions which might occur within the family, were measured: family education level, socioeconomic status, and gender. Results of the statistical analysis indicate that the most relevant childhood experience related to the adult SOC was participation in shaping outcomes. Both family education level and gender were related to SOC, directly and indirectly. Findings are discussed in terms of the salutogenic model and the historical and social context in which the interviewees grew up.

Adolescents' Reactions to the Evacuation of the Sinai Settlements: A Longitudinal Study

This study investigated psychological reactions of adolescents to a severe stress situation--the evacuation of the Sinai settlements. The research focused on emotional reactions of anxiety and anger to this stress situation. Two central problems were investigated: The intensity of the emotional responses of anxiety and anger of the adolescents to the stress situation, before and after the evacuation, and the impact of three intervening variables on these emotional reactions--cognitive perception of the political situation, family functioning, and personality characteristics. Data for this study were collected in a regional high school in Israel from 418 pupils in 9th through 12th grades. Seventy-eight of the pupils lived in the Yamit area. Measurements were obtained at three points in time: 6 weeks and 1 week before the evacuation and 2 months after it. The results supported the predicted trend that adolescents in the Yamit group before the evacuation would score higher on state anxiety and state anger than would those in the comparison group. Two months after the evacuation there was a significant drop in those scores. The trait measures remained stable in both groups and no significant differences were found between the two groups on these scores. Concerning the impact of the three intervening variables on the intensity of the state emotional responses, the results did not support any of the hypotheses.

Sexual Activity and Sex Hormone Levels in Aging Men

A cross-sectional study of 60 men aged 65-80 was carried out to test the impact of the aging process on sexual hormones (testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin), sexual activity, and the relations between them. Blood samples for hormone assays were taken between 8-9 A.M. in the primary care clinic at which the participants were registered. Data on sexual activity (coitus), sexual desire (libido), marital status, and age were obtained from the respondents by means of a structured interview. No relationship was found between testosterone (T) or prolactin (PL) and sexual activity. Nevertheless, a statistically significant relationship between FSH and LH versus age, and an inverse relationship between sexual activity and age were found. Hypogonadism (T level less than 3ng/ml) with normal levels of FSH and LH was observed in 11 respondents.

Gender differences in patterns of adolescent sexual behavior

The findings of a questionnaire survey of sexual attitudes and behavior of a large nationwide sample of Israeli adolescents (N=5410) show clear gender differences in patterns of sexual behavior even among kibbutz adolescents who express very permissive attitudes toward premarital coitus and live under conditions which provide easy access to potential sexual partners. Permissive conditions increase rates of coitus among female adolescents, but this sexual experience occurs within the framework of an emotionally involving relationship. Kibbutz girls who report coital rates equal to those of kibbutz and nonkibbutz boys (about 40%) have their first coital relationship with a steady boyfriend with whom they are in love and continue having sexual relations with the same partner. This pattern is similar to that of nonkibbutz females, who report much lower rates of coitus (14%). Males do not necessarily have sexual relations in the context of an emotional relationship. The findings are interpreted in terms of pattern of sex-role socialization.

Sexual attitude‐behavior discrepancy among Israeli adolescent girls

Abstract It was predicted that adolescent girls who had engaged in premarital coitus but who felt that virginity until marriage was important would, compared to coitally experienced girls who did not consider virginity important, come from more traditional families, have fewer positive feelings about their first coital experience, have had intercourse less frequently, and give more external sources of influence for their first experience. Primary data were collected from a sample of 305 Israeli girls, 88 of whom exhibited the attitude‐behavior discrepancy, and 217 of whom were consistent in attitude and behavior. Each hypothesis was supported. The results are discussed in terms of background factors likely to lead to the discrepancy, and the characteristics of adolescent sexuality. The implications for future sexual and emotional relationships of embarking on a pattern of behavior of which one disapproves are suggested.

Changes in Attitudes of Medical Students Toward Psychiatry: An Evaluation of a Clerkship in Psychiatry

Four categories of medical student attitudes were measured: attitudes toward psychiatry and psychiatrists; treatability of psychiatric patients; likeability of psychiatric patients; attitudes toward the medical profession. Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECM) students showed preto post-clerkship positive attitude change in their attitude toward psychiatry and psychiatrists and treatability of psychiatric patients. Ben-Gurion University (Israel) students showed no changes in attitude scores. Analysis of 14 items considered especially relevant to the clerkship experience indicated that the clerkship tended to strengthen pre-existing positive attitudes with no change in negative attitudes.