IUHPE

International Union for Health Promotion and Education

GWG on Salutogenesis

What is the Salutogenic orientation?

Salutogenesis is a concept originally developed by Aaron Antonovsky (1979, 1987). In the broadest sense, salutogenesis refers to a scholarly orientation focusing attention on the study of the origins of health, instead of the origins of disease. In essence, salutogenesis is concerned with positive health, creating coherent living environments, strengthening socio-ecological health resources as well as strengthening the sense of coherence of individuals and groups. As all these aspects well align with the orientation of health promotion, salutogenesis has become a guiding theory for the field of health promotion (see Handbook of Salutogenesis).

Background and Organisation

The Global Working Group was established in 2007 at the IUHPE General Assembly, in Vancouver, Canada – to advance and promote the science of salutogenesis within health promotion.

The Global Working Group on Salutogenesis (GWG-SAL) is an international and interdisciplinary group with two levels of membership:

Core working group of the GWG-Sal: this group consist of up to 18 members representing different world regions and research areas of salutogenesis. Members are elected by the core working group of the GWG-Sal for a period of 5 years (repeated elections possible). It is responsible for implementing the action plan of the GWG-Sal.

Global Network of Salutogenesis: this group is open to all people devoted to the mission of the GWG-Sal. This group supports pursuing the mission of the GWG-Sal and is continuously informed by and engaged with the core working group

Mission

Ø To advance and promote the science of salutogenesis (philosophy, theory, methodology, evidence) and thus to contribute to the scientific base of health promotion and of the IUHPE

Objectives

Along with the general aims of the GWG of the IUHPE, the GWG-Sal pursues the following objectives:

salutogenesis-related agenda-setting for, within and beyond the IUHPE;
contribution of the salutogenic approach to the IUHPE and other scientific programs;
engage with key (regional) research fields and stakeholders for capacity building regarding salutogenesis.

Working principles

Considering principles of the Ottawa Charter
Inclusiveness regarding regions, gender, age etc.
Coherent work plan: comprehensible, manageable, meaningful for GWG members
Voluntary engagement through joyful experience
Feasibility: link meetings of GWG-Sal to related health promotion conferences

If you like to know more about or get involved in any of the below activities, please contact the Chair of the GWG-Sal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Found a “Society of Salutogenesis” SoS: Provide a trans-disciplinary platform for exchange between researchers in the field of salutogenesis. This SoS will reach out to researchers beyond the field of health promotion who can contribute new approaches and new areas of application of salutogenesis. The GWG-Sal will act as a bridge between this society and the IUHPE. Date: 2018. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Establish a “Journal of Salutogenesis” JoS: this journal will facilitate the trans-disciplinary exchange between researchers in the field of salutogenesis. It will be founded by the Society of Salutogenesis. Date: 2019.
Contribute to scientific conferences and seminars related to salutogenesis:

Biannual International Forum of Health Promotion Research 2016, 2018, 2020. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IUHPE European Health Promotion Research Network & Conference Trondheim 2018; NN 2020; Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IUHPE Global Health Promotion Conference New Zealand 2019. (pre-conference research seminar, sub-plenary salutogenesis – a global perspective, further symposia) Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Initiate publications on salutogenesis:

Research articles on key developments in salutogenesis
Second edition of the Handbook of Salutogenesis (see below)

Organize meetings of the GWG-Sal: See dates below
Provide up-dated information on the website of GWG-Sal: please send news regarding Salutogenesis to the Chair of the GWG-Sal

Chair

Georg Bauer, Switzerland This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HQ

Division Public & Organizational Health, Institute for Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention, Center of Salutogenesis, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Membership

Name

Institution / area of expertise