Salutogenesis 2.0: An examination of healthy ageing-in-place using a qualitative application of the Sense of Coherence.

The aim of this thesis was to examine the theory of salutogenesis (Antonovsky, 1987; 1996), within the context of later life, and to consider the value of salutogenesis as an analytical perspective applicable to understanding older people’s health and wellbeing as they age-in-place. This was done by applying the theory’s analytical construct, the Sense of Coherence (SOC), qualitatively and using its three components comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness, to make sense of data gathered from life review interviews. These interviews were conducted with a sample of ‘healthy’ and active older people, aged 75 years and older, living independently in the East and South-East of Ireland. The results and analysis presented demonstrate the potential value of the qualitative application of the SOC, and additionally suggest that qualitative methods are underutilised in salutogenic research. Furthermore, using qualitative approaches to explore the SOC provides additional scope to incorporate context and place as central positions of analysis, thereby opening up the theory of salutogenesis more fully to health geographers. The results of this research contribute to the geographies of health and ageing literature by providing a detailed exploration of the theory of salutogenesis as a framework that can contribute to the geographer’s understanding of the health-place relationship. The thesis also contributes to the salutogenic literature by examining the SOC through the lens of relational geographies of health and ageing. What emerges is a complementary dialogue and flow of ideas between diverse perspectives on health and wellbeing in later life.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Walsh, Sandra

Language dc:language

en