Exploring salutogenic pathways : The roles of learning, life experiences, GRR’s, SRR’s and SOC in the theory of salutogenesis

Abstract title: Exploring salutogenic pathways Authors: ir. C.Q. (Carlijn) Wentink1, dr. ir. H.W. (Lenneke) Vaandrager1, prof. dr. M.A. (Maria) Koelen1 and dr. ir. L.I. (Laura) Bouwman1 1Wageningen University, Social Sciences Group, chair group of Health and Society (HSO), www.WageningenUR.nl/hso Background: Inspired by Aaron Antonovsky’s ideas on salutogenesis there is an ongoing scientific discussion on what creates health, how we can explain that some people manage to stay healthy, while others do not. Part of this discussion is the search for how the mechanisms that underlie health development can be measured and explained. Research grounded in salutogenic theory has placed much emphasis on the Sense of Coherence (SOC). While SOC obviously is an important concept within salutogenesis we believe that more research needs to be done on operationalizing General and Specific Resistance Resources and the mechanisms that underlie health development in the theory of salutogenesis. Aim: Work towards an operationalization of General and Specific Resistance Resources (GRR’s and SRR’s) and explore mechanisms that underlie health development in salutogenesis, in order to gain greater understanding of the theory of salutogenesis and its possible applications in different thematic fields. Presented research: Current research of the HSO-group carried out from a salutogenic perspective with regard to food practices, health promoting green environments and workplace health will serve as examples on what we have discovered about GRR’s, SRR’s, salutogenic mechanisms and life experiences. Discussion: Through the presented research we would like to evoke a discussion on the interplay between stressors, GRR’s, SRR’s and life experiences within the theory of salutogenesis.