This study was conducted in South Africa among a total of 86 South African adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate self-perceived health among youths from two different socio-economic groups in South Africa, what they believe promote their health and what views they have on school health education. The study used a mixed method approach consisting of quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews. The study draws Aaron Antonovsky’s theory of health, the salutogenic perspective and the sense of coherence theory. In addition, Antonovsky’s 29-item orientation to life questionnaire formed the quantitative part of the study. The main findings of this study is that higher socio-economic status does not necessarily correlate with higher SOC. Family and supportive people had the greatest affect on the adolescents’ ability to cope with stressors and are therefore the main health promoting factors. Finally, health education and the subject Life Orientation, as well as the school as an institution, are health-promoting factors and have in different ways influenced the participants’ views on health.