Health maintenance

What is Salutogenesis?

Salutogenesis is a health science term coined by the sociologist Aaron Antonovsky. It describes an approach to studying and promoting health that focuses on understanding the factors that help people stay healthy despite stress and challenges.

In contrast to the traditional disease-centered model that focuses on the causes of disease, salutogenesis looks at the sources of health. Antonovsky argues that health is a continuous process and that people have resources to cope with stress and promote their health, even in difficult situations.

The term "salutogenesis" is derived from Latin terms: "salus" means health and "genesis" means creation. So it's about the emergence of health. Salutogenesis emphasizes the importance of individual and social resources in helping people cope with stress and maintain or improve their health. These include, for example, personal beliefs, social support, physical activity, nutrition, cultural factors and environmental conditions.

Salutogenesis also emphasizes the concept of "sense of coherence" (SOC), which Antonovsky sees as a central concept. It describes a person's ability to find meaning and meaning in their life, overcome challenges and have a sense of control over their environment and their life. A strong sense of coherence is considered beneficial to health.

The salutogenic perspective has important implications for health promotion and disease prevention. She emphasizes the importance of strengthening resources and promoting a sense of coherence and meaning in life in order to maintain and promote health. It also emphasizes the role of social, cultural and environmental factors in the health of individuals and communities.