Explorando la inteligencia emocional percibida en tres franjas etarias: un estudio realizado en la argentina / Exploring perceived emotional intelligence in three age groups: a sudy realized in Argentina

La inteligencia emocional percibida consiste en un conjunto de habilidades de procesamiento emocional. Incluye la capacidad para percibir los propios estados emocionales – atencion emocional –, comprenderlos y expresarlos linguisticamente – claridad de sentimientos - y regularlos adaptativamente – reparación emocional. Este constructo se encuadra dentro del enfoque de la Psicología Positiva, ha sido asociado a la resiliencia y funciona como amortiguador de las respuestas de estres y como un factor protector contra el burnout. Este estudio explora y compara las características de la inteligencia emocional percibida en personas de tres grupos de edad: 1) 15 a 24; 2) 30 a 45 y 3) 60 a 75 años, mediante un diseno transversal, descriptivo-correlacional. Se realizó un muestreo no probabilistico-intencional de 252 sujetos de ambos sexos a los que se administró la Escala de Metaconocimiento sobre Estados Emocionales. Los resultados señalan que los participantes de 60 a 75 años presentan mayor capacidad de comprensión y expresión emocional que los de los grupos restantes, así como mayor capacidad de regular sus emociones que los del grupo de 15 a 24 años. Estos resultados apoyan los antecedentes que señalan que los adultos mayores presentan un perfil de mayor desarrollo de las habilidades de Inteligencia Emocional que las personas de menor edad. Esto implica que los adultos mayores tienen disponibles estos efectivos recursos emocionales para afrontar y adaptarse a los desafios de la vida cotidiana en la vejez.

Perceived emotional intelligence is a set of abilities of emotional processing. It includes the capacity to recognize the own emotional states – emotional attention –, the ability to understand and express them linguistically – clarity of feelings – and also the ability to adaptively regulate them – emotional repair. Developed within the Positive Psychology framework, it has been associated with resilience and works as a buffer for stress responses and also as a protective factor against the burnout. This study explores and compares the characteristics of perceived emotional intelligence in three age groups, 1) 15 to 24; 2) 30 to 45 and 3) 60 to 75, using a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. A non-probability intentional sample of 252 subjects, both male and female – for whom the Scale of Metacognition about Emotional States was administered – was carried out. The results showed that subjects from 60 to 75 years have a greater capacity for understanding and emotional expression than the other groups, and greater ability to regulate their emotions than the 15 to 24 group. This findings support previous studies which point out that the elderly have a more developed profile of perceived emotional intelligence abilities than younger people. This implies that the elderly have effective emotional resources to cope and adapt to everyday challenges.

El apoyo social en la vejez: la familia, los amigos y la comunidad / Social support in later life: family, friends and community

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo efectuar un análisis acerca de la importancia del apoyo social y la participación en la vejez. En primer lugar se presentan las contribuciones que distintos organismos internacionales interesados en la vejez y el envejecimiento han efectuado para el fortalecimiento de dichos apoyos y el incremento de la participación de las personas mayores. Se describen distintas fuentes de apoyo social: formales e informales y las intervenciones que pueden efectuarse con variados objetivos -asistenciales, preventivos y de promoción del bienestar- y en diversos niveles de actuación -individual, grupal, familiar, organizacional y comunitario- y se efectúa un análisis acerca del impacto que sobre el bienestar integral tienen los recursos de apoyo social de los que disponen las personas mayores. Finalmente se reflexiona respecto de ciertos supuestos negativos acerca de la disponibilidad de los apoyos y de la participación social de las personas mayores, en relación con hallazgos de investigaciones recientes sobre el tema. Se concluye la importancia de problematizar estos estereotipos negativos acerca de la vejez en general y sobre la participación y la disponibilidad de apoyo social en particular con el fin de lograr entornos más propicios que promuevan el desarrollo de las potencialidades de las personas mayores.

This paper aims to carry out an analysis about the importance of social support and participation in old age. First, the contributions presented in the various international agencies concerned with old age and aging have been made to strengthen this support and increased participation of older people. Different sources of social support are described: formal and informal and interventions that can be carried out by varied targets - welfare, preventive and promotion of well-being - and in diverse levels of performance - individual, grupal, relative, organizacional and community - and an analysis carries out about the impact that on the integral well-being have the resources of social support which the biggest persons have. Finally it is reflected with regard to certain negative assumptions about the availability of the supports and of the social participation of biggest persons, as regards finds of recent investigations on the topic. It´s conclude the importance of these negative stereotypes about aging in general and concerning the participation and the availability of social support in particular in order to achieve more supportive environments that promote the development of the potential of older people is concluded.

The couple relationship: support functions and sexuality in Old Age / O relacionamento do casal: funções de apoio e sexualidade na velhice

The aim of this paper is to analyze: 1) couple relationships – support functions and characteristics of the relationships – and their difference by gender, and 2) changes that occur in those relationships and in sexual activity in older heterosexual adults in the 65-85 age range. The subjects of the analysis were intentionally selected and the data has been collected in structured and semi-structured interviews. The results obtained by quantitative and qualitative analysis show that the couple relationship in old age fulfills functions such as emotional support, companionship and cognitive advice. Analysis by gender shows significant differences in 4 out of the 5 support functions that were explored. Among the changes that take place in old age, the decrease of frequency in sexual activity appears in the first place, though the level of satisfaction is maintained; and fellowship, mutual care and positive affect in relation to the partner increase.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar: 1) as relações de casal - funções de apoio e as características das relações - e sua diferença por sexo; e 2) as mudanças que ocorrem nesses relacionamentos e em atividade sexual em adultos heterossexuais mais velhos na faixa etária de 65-85 anos. Os sujeitos da análise foram intencionalmente selecionados e os dados foram coletados em entrevistas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas. Os resultados obtidos pelo programa quantitativo e qualitativo de análise evidenciam que o relacionamento do casal na velhice cumpre funções como apoio emocional, companheirismo e aconselhamento cognitivo. A análise por gênero mostra diferenças significativas em 4 das 5 funções de apoio que foram exploradas. Entre as mudanças que ocorrem na velhice, a diminuição da frequência da atividade sexual aparece em primeiro lugar, embora o nível de satisfação seja mantido, assim como o companheirismo, o cuidado mútuo e o afeto positivo em relação ao parceiro.