한국윤리교육학회

In order to develop a theoretical basis for the development of mental health and moral education of college students this article explores Aaron Antonovsky’s concept of ‘Sense of Coherence (SoC).’ Antonovsky’s salutogenetic approach offers a new paradigm of mental and physical health inasmuch as it is focused on the various elements that are at play in the maintenance of a healthy state of being. The stress and manifold challenges which college students are confronted with in their lives can be overcome by means of what Antonovsky termed ‘Generalized Resistance Resources (GRR)’ and a strong ‘Sense of Coherence.’ The ‘Sense of Coherence’ consists of three elements, which are 1) comprehensibility, 2) manageability and 3) meaningfulness. Having a strong SoC is shown to enable a person to use and apply his or her Generalized Resistance Resources (GRR) much more efficiently compared with persons possessing only a weak or damaged SoC. College students in stressful situations generally feel more anxious as they have fewer GRR and therefore often feel that they are more or less incapable of solving the problems that manifest themselves in these stressful situations. But those with a strong SoC can build up a stable personal identity and self-esteem through positive feedback, which is why in the next challenging situation they have to face they are better equipped with the power to overcome it and can make the experience of entering into a health-bolstering upward spiral. This article’s intention is to provide college students with advice on how to acquire various and concrete GRR and how to promote their personality development and mental health in order to overcome the ever tightening grip of stress and to become able to solve greater life challenges autonomously. Thus the students themselves will find health-maintaining – that is ‘salutogenetic’ – life elements and personal strength in the actual process of solving problems.