Antonovsky meets Honneth or: The sense of coherence and intersubjective forms of recognition

• Published in: European journal of public health 2019-11, Vol.29 (Supplement_4)
• Main Authors: Rosenlechner-Urbanek, D, Garstenauer, U
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access; Action research; Coherence; Discrimination; Emotions; Empirical analysis; Family reunification; Family work relationship; Health education; Health promotion; Human dignity; Human settlements; Participation; Political asylum; Psychological distress; Public health; Qualitative research; Racism; Recognition; Refugee camps; Refugees; Research projects; Social interactions; Social workers; Stress; Well being
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.423

Abstract Persons who flee their home country are confronted with innumerous stressors. The action research project PAGES (Participation and Health Literacy of Asylum Seekers and Recognised Refugees in Salzburg) asked how their subjective health can be supported - despite experiences of uncertainty and inactivity in the asylum process. In the two yearlong accompanying qualitative research the project investigated into the role of participation, consistency and un-der/overload balance - as defined by (Antonovsky 1979, 1987) - for the well-being of 20 refugees from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Venezuela, aged between 17 and 58 (two thirds thereof were women). The analysis of empirical data showed that the subject-oriented dimensions (Antonovsky 1979, 1987) need to be complemented by intersubjective forms of recognition. First, findings stress the importance of support by “legitimate others” (e.g. social workers) in order to develop a sense of manageability, only briefly mentioned by Antonovsky (1987). Second, the experience of emotional closeness (Shagy/Antonovsky 2000, sphere of love in Honneth 1995) is essential for a person’s well-being, which is often hindered by isolation in refugee camps, relationships under distress or denied family reunification. A third crucial intersubjective dimension is legal recognition and the protection of one’s human dignity (Honneth 1995), which is often violated by racism and other forms of discrimination. Fourth, refugees seek the opportunity to rally for social esteem for their capacities and particularities (Honneth 1995), which is - at least in Austria - hindered by the denial of access to educational institutions and gainful work. According to these findings, health promotion for refugees in welcoming countries needs to enable positive life experiences regarding participation, comprehensibility, manageability/support by “legitimate others” and emotional closeness, legal recognition and social esteem. Key messages For a deeper understanding of salutogenesis, the subject-oriented elements of the sense of coherence (Antonovsky 1987) need to be complemented by intersubjective forms of recognition (Honneth 1995). Health promotion means enabling experiences of participation, comprehensibility, manageability as well as support by “legitimate others”, emotional closeness, legal recognition and social esteem.