Sense of Coherence, Salutogenesis, Health, and Well-Being

In this chapter, the authors discuss the concepts of health and well-being and their relationship with salutogenesis and sense of coherence through the pivotal role of health promotion. It highlights the complex interaction among these concepts and to explore the main approaches oriented to appropriately integrate the widest range of tools (from ecology and economy to prevention and health care). Within this complex interaction, salutogenic and pathogenic paradigms are not antinomian but complementary approaches to be activated according to the specific situations and contexts, with mutual contamination, through the inclusion of salutogenic assets in health care (enabling sick people to take control of their health care environment), but also taking care on pathogenic elements in health promotion policies (universal health care as an essential resource for individual and societies).