The role of emotions in health education

Abstract

Introduction: In health, the biomedical model still prevails on a global scale, which places emphasis on the disease, its etiopathogenesis and the healing process. The salutogenic model is gradually being introduced, which advocates the importance of primary prevention, well-being and health. In the light of the salutogenesis approach, the education of emotions becomes of paramount importance. The objective of this article is to argue the links between socio-emotional education and health education, considering the importance of favoring a healthy condition of the subjects, in line with the assumptions of the salutogenic approach and the promotion of positive emotions. Method: Theoretical, empirical and statistical methods and techniques were used. Among which the analytical-synthetic, theoretical systematization, documentary analysis, questionnaire applied to health professionals, frequency distribution tables (matrices) and graphs, respectively, stand out. Results: A limited culture was identified in health personnel regarding the recognition of the role of emotions in healt-disease, from a holistic perspective. Hence, in interventions aimed at prevention, promotion and health education, they are generally not considered. Discussion: It is concluded with the assertion that there is a direct and important link between emotions and the health-disease binomial, which should be considered at the different levels of public health care, both at the individual and community levels.