A salutogenic perspective on sport-for-development research

Area of Science:

• Positive youth development
• Sport psychology
• Health promotion

Background:

• Current research on positive youth development through sport lacks clear mechanisms for life skill development and transfer.
• Existing studies narrowly focus on sports settings, neglecting the interplay with other life domains.
• The transfer of skills acquired in sports to other life contexts remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advance research on positive youth development through sport by applying the salutogenic model of health.
• To address limitations in theoretical basis, focus on life domains, and skill transfer mechanisms.
• To provide a framework for understanding how sports contribute to holistic youth development.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis applying the salutogenic model of health to positive youth development.
• Examination of how the salutogenic model elucidates mechanisms of life skill development in sports.
• Exploration of the interaction between individual resources, stressors, and sense of coherence across life domains.

Main Results:

• The salutogenic model enhances understanding of positive youth development through sport by focusing on comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness.
• Youth development is understood as arising from the interplay of stressors, resources, and sense of coherence across various life domains.
• Generalized and resistance resources, alongside sense of coherence, are crucial for transferring life skills between domains.

Conclusions:

• The salutogenic model offers valuable insights into positive youth development and life skill transfer via sport.
• Strengthening youths' sense of coherence within sports programs is a viable strategy to enhance well-being and skill transfer.
• Recommendations for future research are provided to further investigate these mechanisms.