Re-envisioning health promotion: Thinking and acting salutogenically towards equity for historically resilient communities

Glob Health Promot. 2021 Dec;28(4):88-96. doi: 10.1177/17579759211035089. Epub 2021 Sep 2.

Abstract

This paper explores how the salutogenic theory can enable us to re-envision health promotion work with marginalized communities, towards an approach that acknowledges and honours their resilience. We use the three core concepts in Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health - sense of coherence, generalized resistance resources and specific resistance resources - to explore the theory's relevance to health equity, thus presenting new opportunities for how we might radically re-evaluate current health promotion approaches. We conclude that a more equitable health promotion requires increased participation of marginalized communities in shaping their futures and suggest a new model for historically grounded salutogenic health promotion.

Keywords: Health equity; health promotion; resilient communities; salutogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Forecasting
  • Health Promotion*
  • Humans
  • Sense of Coherence*