P0008 - Promoting mental health - Evidence of the Salutogenic Framework for a positive health development

Abstract

Social trends point to a major upset of the traditional social structures such as the rupture of local and intimate networks because of migration into urban areas, changed function and structure of family networks and changes in the patterns of working life. At the same time there are concerns regarding a decreasing mental health. All this makes it difficult to find and run a coherent life. However, there are theories and frameworks contributing to stress research. One of them is the salutogenic theory developed by Aaron Antonovsky, a positive concept exploring the origin of health (salutogenesis) not disease (pathogenesis). Stress has generally been seen as a negative event that increased the risk of people “breaking down”. In contrast, Antonovsky stated that chaos and stress are part of life and natural conditions. The fundamental concepts of Salutogenesis are Generalized Resistance Resources (GRRs) and Sense of Coherence (SOC). GRRs help the person to construct coherent life experiences. Even more important than the resources themselves is the ability to use them, the sense of coherence (SOC).The presentation reports findings from an ongoing extensive worldwide systematic review of the salutogenic research, based on about 500 scientific articles. The findings show the SOC to be strongly related to perceived good health, especially mental health. SOC seems to have a main, moderating or mediating role in explaining health. SOC is able to reduce stress. SOC predicts good health and QoL. The salutogenic framework could guide public health, particularly mental health promotion, in a new direction.