Salutogenesis
Health as a Continuum
When we think about health, we often imagine two categories: healthy or sick. But what if health isn’t a binary state? What if it’s a continuum, where we are constantly moving toward greater health (or further away from it) based on our daily choices, environment, and resilience?
This perspective was introduced by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, who developed the theory of Salutogenesis. Rather than focusing on what causes disease, Antonovsky asked a different question: What creates health?
In the salutogenic model, health isn’t simply the absence of disease. Instead, every person exists somewhere along a spectrum between illness and optimal wellbeing. Even someone living with chronic conditions can move toward greater health through supportive environments, habits, and mindset.
This shift in perspective changes the conversation. Instead of asking only, “What’s wrong?” we begin asking, “What helps the body move toward health?”
The Role of Meaning and Resilience
Antonovsky identified a key factor that influences where we fall on this continuum: the Sense of Coherence. This reflects how much we experience life as:
Comprehensible – we can understand what’s happening around us
Manageable – we believe we have resources to cope
Meaningful – challenges feel worthwhile to engage with
People who develop a stronger sense of coherence often show greater resilience to stress and better long-term health outcomes.
Rethinking Symptoms
From this perspective, many symptoms can be viewed not just as problems to eliminate, but as signals that something in the system needs attention. They can prompt us to explore factors such as stress, sleep, nutrition, movement, relationships, and environment—areas that influence the body’s ability to maintain balance.
Moving Toward Health
If health truly exists on a continuum, then small, consistent steps matter. Moving toward health might include:
Supporting restorative sleep
Prioritizing movement and physical activity
Managing stress and recovery
Strengthening social connection
Creating meaning and purpose in daily life
Having your spine checked, even if you feel good
These actions help build the resilience and resources that allow the body to adapt and regulate more effectively.
A Different Question
The salutogenic approach invites a powerful shift in perspective. Instead of focusing only on what causes disease, we can ask:
What helps us move toward health?
And perhaps even more importantly:
What is one step you can take this month to move further along that continuum toward wellbeing?
