Salutogenesis and the Mental Health of First Responders

Abstract

In this chapter, the author addresses salutogenesis and the mental health of first responders (FRs). Research has observed FRs to be prone to psychological distress and psychopathology resulting from their repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events. Most of the literature is focused on postevent treatment. The author discusses a mental fitness model that includes salutogenically oriented psychoeducation and other activities to enhance mental fitness among FRs and build their psychological strengths as they face adversities on their job.In closing, the author recommends that besides psychopathology-oriented programs intended for providing mental first aid to FRs and for the communities who experience potentially traumatic events, intervention also should include salutogenically based mental preparation programs. These should emphasize the strengths and resources that could help FRs arrive at scenes of disaster equipped with salutogenic resources, at the strategic as well as tactical levels.

COVID-19-Related Stress and Resilience Resources: A Comparison Between Adoptive and non-Adoptive Mothers

“…Despite no studies compared the level of SOC in adoptive and non-adoptive parents, the literature has pointed out the significant impact of adoptive family's SOC on adoptees’ psychosocial adjustment ( Ji et al, 2010 ), proving insight into the mechanisms involved in adoptive family's ability to cope with stress. According to the salutogenic approach ( Antonovsky, 2022 ), our findings document a greater individual resilience capacity of adoptive mothers in coping with stressful situations: Adoptive mothers seem to be more able to manage stress related to the pandemic and less sensitive to this health challenge. Again, we can speculate that adoptive mothers have experienced many stressful life events and they not only “survived”, but they also empowered their coping abilities.…”

The Role of Sense of Coherence During the COVID-19 Crisis: Does it Exercise a Moderating or a Mediating Effect on University Students’ Wellbeing?

“…A broader definition of mental health includes a high level of psychological functioning and the ability to manage stressful situations (Maercker & Zoellner, 2004) and SOC fundamentally contributes to both as it enables the individual to successfully handle small disruptions. SOC is assumed to be relatively stable during adulthood (Antonovsky, 1997) but major life challenges can impact SOC and therefore other aspects of wellbeing. Our results indicate that the COVID-19 crisis constituted such a major event for some students.…”

“…Antonovsky proposed that health should be understood on a multi-dimensional continuum in place of a dichotomy of health and illness. He emphasized the importance of comprehending individuals with respect to their life stories, including the individual's strengths and coping strategies as well as considering individual adaptation to the environment (Antonovsky, 1997). In this sense, salutogenesis also illustrates that individual experiences affect how we manage and use resources and how we cope with stressors (Bauer et al, 2020).…”

“…SOC represents a general and individual global orientation that is dynamic on the one hand but expected to reach stability in adulthood on the other hand (Antonovsky, 1997;Mc Gee et al, 2018a). SOC illustrates how individuals select and employ adaptive strategies in stressful situations (Antonovsky, 1997;Bla¨ttner, 2007). It includes three facets: First, the behavioral component, manageability, attenuates possibilities and resources to counteract stressors.…”

“…Within the framework of salutogenesis, the concept of the sense of coherence (SOC) was developed (Antonovsky, 1979;Bla¨ttner, 2007;Lindstro¨m & Eriksson, 2005). SOC represents a general and individual global orientation that is dynamic on the one hand but expected to reach stability in adulthood on the other hand (Antonovsky, 1997;Mc Gee et al, 2018a). SOC illustrates how individuals select and employ adaptive strategies in stressful situations (Antonovsky, 1997;Bla¨ttner, 2007).…”