Salutogenic Perspectives on Health Maintenance

Abstract

In this article we explore the impact of resistance resources and the sense of meaningfulness – the central component of the sense of coherence (SOC) – on retaining a health maintenance orientation. In this cross-sectional study, 170 rather healthy individuals of a mean age of 67 years filled out a questionnaire assessing resources (self-esteem, self-efficacy, physical health), SOC components (comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness), and multiple health behaviors. Holding resources constant, the SOC components significantly accounted for additional variance in multiple health behaviors. Meaningfulness as the strongest predictor mediated the influence of both self-esteem and self-efficacy on multiple health behaviors. Feeling that one’s life is meaningful helps an older individual to take responsibility for his or her health and to practice multiple healthful behaviors.