Background: Poor perceived health during childhood may affect an
individual's well-being throughout life. In adult studies, sense of
coherence (SOC) has been shown to be associated with perceived health.
Aims: The aim of this study was to determine which factors with an
emphasis on SOC and physical exercise were associated with perceived
health among 12-year-old children. Methods: A total of 1,231 12-year-old
school children (83%) completed a questionnaire. Most of the 37
questions had multiple-choice types of response. The questions were
largely based on those used in the Health Behaviour in School-aged
Children (HBSC) study coordinated by the WHO. SOC was determined using
the 13-item scale developed by Antonovsky. Factors used in calculating
performance at school were marks (given by the teachers, range 4—10, 10
being the best) in mathematics, native language, and first foreign
language. Statistical analysis involved the use of logistic regression
models and the so-called generalized estimation technique because of the
multi-level study design. Results: In a multivariate model adjusted for
reported psychosomatic symptoms, insufficient physical exercise was
clearly (OR 4.6) associated with poor perceived health. Other variables
with significant associations (OR 1.4—1.7) were a mark below 9 in
mathematics, belonging to the weakest SOC tertile, reporting of problems
of perceived support from teachers, and reporting of various problems
involving the class climate. Conclusions: Among the studied variables
physical exercise was the most strongly associated with perceived
health, even when several social and psychological risk factors were
included in the analysis. SOC and variables of social support were also
of importance.