Salutogenic Principles in Workplace Health Promotion Interventions: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

While workplace health promotion has traditionally emphasized risk reduction, knowledge about the extent to which interventions incorporate health-promoting resources such as Sense of Coherence, Participation, Goal-Setting, Variability, and Empowerment is fragmented. This scoping review examined how these salutogenic principles are operationalized in behavioral workplace health promotion programs focused on primary prevention. A systematic search across five databases identified 128 intervention studies published between 2014 and 2024. Each program was assessed using a Salutogenesis-Score (0-5) reflecting the number of salutogenic principles integrated into its design and delivery. Overall, the incorporation of salutogenic principles was moderate. Empowerment, Variability, and Sense of Coherence were most frequently represented, whereas Participation and Goal-Setting appeared considerably less often. For instance, tailored interventions that included individualized counseling or self-management tools achieved high scores, with multi-component programs showing the strongest overall alignment. Although many programs contain elements that support health-promoting behavior, their potential to fully activate salutogenic mechanisms remains underused. Strengthening participatory approaches and personalized goal-setting may enhance employee agency, adaptability, and long-term engagement, thereby fostering more sustainable and empowering workplace health promotion.