Divorcio parental, apego a los padres y satisfacción con la vida en adolescentes chilenos: un estudio comparativo

Si bien existen una serie de avances en la comprensión de los efectos del divorcio sobre el bienestar y desarrollo de los adolescentes, un aspecto que requiere mayor exploración es si existen variaciones en la satisfacción con la vida y la calidad de los vínculos de apego entre adolescentes que han experimentado o no el divorcio de sus padres. El presente estudio tuvo por objetivo evaluar diferencias en la satisfacción con la vida y en la calidad del apego a la madre y al padre entre adolescentes provenientes de familias intactas y quienes han experimentado el divorcio de sus padres. Mediante un estudio de corte transversal, se evaluó una muestra de 421 adolescentes chilenos entre 12 y 17 años, siendo un 54,6% hijos de padres casados y un 45,4% hijos de padres divorciados. Los análisis de diferencias de medias mediante pruebas t permitieron identificar que la satisfacción con la vida es mayor en los hijos de familias intactas. Asimismo, se detectaron diferencias en la calidad del apego hacia el padre, pero no hacia la madre. En específico, los hijos de padres divorciados reportaron menor calidad de la comunicación, menor confianza mutua y mayor alienación con sus padres que los hijos de familias intactas. Estos resultados, discutidos desde una perspectiva clínica, avanzan en la comprensión de los efectos del divorcio en adolescentes chilenos.

While there have been several advances in understanding the effects of divorce on the well-being and development of adolescents, one aspect that requires further exploration is whether there are variations in life satisfaction and the quality of attachment relationships among adolescents who have experienced their parents' divorce and those who have not. The present study aimed to assess differences in life satisfaction and the quality of attachment to both mothers and fathers among adolescents from intact families and those who have experienced their parents' divorce. Through a cross-sectional study, a sample of 421 Chilean adolescents aged 12 to 17 was evaluated, with 54.6% being children of married parents and 45.4% being children of divorced parents. Mean difference analyses using t-tests revealed that life satisfaction is higher among children from intact families. Additionally, differences in the quality of attachment to the father, but not to the mother, were detected. Specifically, children of divorced parents reported lower quality of communication, less mutual trust, and greater alienation from their parents than children from intact families. These results, discussed from a clinical perspective, contribute to the understanding of the effects of divorce on Chilean adolescents.

Psychosocial Stressors in Inter-human Relationships and Health at Each Life Stage: A Review

Currently, psychosocial stressors’ impacts on health are increasing. Among these stressors, this review focused on inter-human relationships. Since social supports could be protective against ill health, consequences contributing to psychosocial stressors are discussed here in relation to social supports for each stage of childhood, adulthood and elderly status. For childhood, parental divorce/isolation, and child abuse/neglect appeared to be determinants of healthy development at either the initial or later stages. According to prospective studies, such stressors, especially those occurring until around 3 years of age, were associated with later adverse life quality in adulthood. Therefore, nationwide preventive strategies were developed in each country to monitor protective social programs. For adulthood, job strain was focused on Karasek’s job strain model, effort-reward imbalance, employment grade and working hours. These psychosocial stressors were shown to affect not only the physical health but also the mental health of working people. These days, since Karoshi and even suicide related to excessive workloads are taking a toll on workplace organization, stress-coping abilities such as a sense of coherence were introduced from the individual-social interaction aspect. For elderly status, retirement, caring for the elderly, and spouse bereavement were discussed as psychosocial stressors. Some evidence indicates that these stressors could be determinants of health. Finally, social supports have been demonstrated to promote health and protect the elderly against diseases and death.

Psychosocial stressors in inter-human relationships and health at each life stage: A review

Currently, psychosocial stressors' impacts on health are increasing. Among these stressors, this review focused on inter-human relationships. Since social supports could be protective against ill health, consequences contributing to psychosocial stressors are discussed here in relation to social supports for each stage of childhood, adulthood and elderly status.For childhood, parental divorce/isolation, and child abuse/neglect appeared to be determinants of healthy development at either the initial or later stages. According to prospective studies, such stressors, especially those occurring until around 3 years of age, were associated with later adverse life quality in adulthood. Therefore, nationwide preventive strategies were developed in each country to monitor protective social programs.For adulthood, job strain was focused on Karasek's job strain model, effort-reward imbalance, employment grade and working hours. These psychosocial stressors were shown to affect not only the physical health but also the mental health of working people. These days, since Karoshi and even suicide related to excessive workloads are taking a toll on workplace organization, stress-coping abilities such as a sense of coherence were introduced from the individual-social interaction aspect.For elderly status, retirement, caring for the elderly, and spouse bereavement were discussed as psychosocial stressors. Some evidence indicates that these stressors could be determiants of health. Finally, social supports have been demonstrated to promote health and protect the elderly against diseases and death.