Salutogenic-based interventions among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This article systematically reviews the application and effectiveness of salutogenic-based interventions—health-promoting approaches grounded in the salutogenesis theory and its core concept, sense of coherence (SOC)—on SOC, quality of life (QOL), and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older adults. Eight randomized controlled trials involving 1,201 participants aged 50 and above were analyzed, revealing that interventions employing empowering self-management and strengths/resource-based approaches showed significant positive effects on SOC, whereas those using reflective dialogue approaches did not. No significant overall effects were found on QOL, and evidence on self-efficacy was inconclusive due to high heterogeneity and limited data. The review highlights empowerment and reflection as potential underlying mechanisms in strengthening SOC and recommends future research to standardize salutogenic interventions using these dual pathways with longitudinal designs to better assess their impact.