The literature describes a mismatch between the core concepts of salutogenesis, or sense of coherence (SOC), meaning manageability and comprehensibility, as these concepts are manifested in research with Western populations, as compared to non-Western populations. The overall objective of this study is to explore this mismatch and to understand how the core concept of salutogenesis is manifested in youth ages 14-16 from the indigenous Bedouin ethnic minority culture of the Negev, Israel, in their own terms through arts-based qualitative methods. The research methods revolved 80 drawings and texts by youth who drew "a good day that went bad - and how [I] fixed it" as well as focus groups. All data, both verbal and visual, were analysed by dividing into themes and then socially contextualising the themes with a peer group. The findings reveal and concretize a mismatch in SOC between these youth and the predominant Western understandings of coping in terms of meanings, manageability and comprehensibility of coping methods. This study's theoretical recommendations are the need to take steps in the direction of closing the gap or mismatch between a universal versus culturally specific body of literature about culture and SOC. Its practical recommendations are to suggest such a methodology.
Keywords: Arts-based research; Indigenous Bedouin youth; Multiculturalism; Salutogenic theory.
© 2018 International Union of Psychological Science.