• Kenya A
• Otieno KO
• Vuyiya CK
• Kenya H

• Mental Health
• Open Access Document
• Resilience, Psychological
• Students / psychology

Objective: Across the world, schools are facing a silent crisis: the rising prevalence of stress, anxiety, and burnout among students. While academic performance remains a key priority, the dominant approaches to educational well-being often remain deficit-based—focused on identifying risks, correcting problems, and remediating failure. In contrast, Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Model offers a paradigm shift by exploring the origins of health rather than the causes of disease. Central to this model is the Sense of Coherence (SOC)—a global orientation reflecting the extent to which individuals perceive life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful.

Discussion: This literature review examines the application of the Salutogenic Model within educational settings, emphasizing its potential to cultivate psychological resilience and academic success simultaneously. Drawing from empirical research in education, health promotion, and organizational psychology, the review explores how SOC functions as both a personal resource and an educational outcome. Findings suggest that when schools foster coherence through supportive relationships, predictable structures, and meaningful learning experiences, students demonstrate higher motivation, engagement, and emotional regulation. Moreover, teachers with high SOC contribute to classroom climates that enhance belonging and collective well-being.

Conclusion: By reframing education as a process of health creation, the review argues for a coherent, resource-oriented model of schooling—one that unites mental health and learning under a common goal: the flourishing of the whole learner. The discussion concludes by identifying pathways for integrating salutogenic principles into curricula, teacher training, and educational policy, positioning schools as ecosystems that generate health, resilience, and lifelong success.

Author keywords: Medical Education; Health Promotion; Mental Health

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