RESUMO
Resumen En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una primera aproximación al análisis del efecto moderador del contexto social, cultural y geográfico en indicadores subjetivos del envejecimiento saludable en personas mayores de 46 años residentes en territorios con características diferenciadas en Costa Rica. Se trabajó con una muestra de 305 personas residentes en tres áreas geográficas: una urbana, una semiurbana y una tercera principalmente rural. La diferenciación de las tres zonas se basó en criterios de densidad poblacional, infraestructura y acceso a bienes y servicios. Los indicadores subjetivos del envejecimiento saludable analizados fueron: participación social, apoyo social, salud percibida, espiritualidad, autoeficacia, comportamientos de autocuidado, bienestar subjetivo (satisfacción con la vida y bienestar psicológico) y estado de ánimo; todas las variables fueron condicionadas por zona de residencia, edad y sexo. Para analizar los indicadores subjetivos se estimó un análisis de covarianza (ANCOVA) o un análisis multivariado de covarianza (MANCOVA), dependiendo del número de variables dependientes analizadas. En general, se identificaron indicadores subjetivos de envejecimiento saludable altos en las personas participantes del estudio, quienes reportaron altos niveles de participación social, satisfacción con la vida y estados de salud y ánimo positivos. Se encontraron diferencias por edad entre los grupos. Sin embargo, no se evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los indicadores subjetivos analizados según la zona de residencia o el sexo. En síntesis, este estudio encontró que los indicadores subjetivos de envejecimiento saludable analizados eran muy similares en residentes de tres zonas geográficas con características distintas. Estos hallazgos iniciales se discuten desde una perspectiva cultural y geográfica y en relación con los modelos de envejecimiento saludable.
Abstract This review exposes the results of a first approximation to the analysis of the moderator effect of the geographical, social, and cultural context on subjective indicators of healthy aging in the Costa Rican context. Costa Rica is a middle-income democratic country that is in an advanced demographic changing process; this phenomenon makes it one of the aged countries in the Latin American region. Therefore, studying healthy aging becomes relevant in the context of population demographic change in the present and future aging societies. The study compared several subjective indicators of healthy aging among people older than 46 who resided in three different geographical areas in the country. Participants were 305 healthy people from three locations: one urban (Heredia Central City), one semi-urban (Santa Ana Central City), and one mainly rural (Nicoya). Participants completed standardized assessment scales to evaluate social participation, social support, perceived health, spirituality, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and subjective well-being (life satisfaction and psychological well-being). All variables were conditioned by geographical zone (urban, semi-urban, and mainly rural), age, and gender. Either Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) or Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) were estimated depending on the number of dependent variables analyzed to test the effect of the zone of residence, gender, and age, over the subjective indicator of healthy aging studied. In general, participants evidenced high scores on subjective indicators such as self-care, social support, spirituality, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, which have been associated with health and well-being during the aging process. Participants reported high levels of social participation and perceived that they received adequate support for their daily life needs. Likewise, participants evidenced a general state of well-being, a positive state of health, high levels of self-efficacy, and positive moods. Differences were found among the groups by comparing age. However, no significant differences were found in the variables studied related to geographical areas of residence and sex, suggesting invariant comparison evidence by zone of residence and sex. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the subjective indicators of healthy aging studied are key to promoting healthy aging at the national level. It is considered necessary to improve opportunities for social participation aimed at older adults, to strengthen community and family social networks, to promote socio-economic support such as financial and instrumental support for activities of daily living, and finally emotional support such as listening, empathy and advice. Although the differences among geographical areas of residence of the people studied were not statistically significant in this study, the evidence suggested a trend of high well-being indicators mainly in the rural areas studied, and particularly more in males than in females. As this study only reached preliminary data, further research must obtain conclusive evidence, as previous research had suggested older people living in rural areas with high longevity indicators in Costa Rica might enjoy unusual environmental characteristics and personal protective factors that could be absent in most of the urban areas in the country. On the other hand, it will be necessary to include the historical and socio-cultural determinants focusing on context-specific review analyses in the mainstream research on healthy aging, even more in aged countries like Costa Rica. The findings are discussed within the inter-cultural emphasis and healthy aging models in order to contribute to a better understanding of how the context (physical-constructed and social/cultural) influences the differences, although subtle, in the study´s variables and participants, and how the process of aging might be different according to the multiple contextual conditions in which people live and adapt their capacities and abilities for coping with daily life demands.
RESUMO
Resumen Los gobiernos municipales de Costa Rica tienen un papel significativo en el Sistema Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo (SNGR) para enfrentar las múltiples amenazas y riesgos que afectan al país desde sus territorios. Los distintos marcos y políticas que trabajan en el enfoque de la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (GRD) promueven la realización de análisis de riesgos como proceso que contribuye a su reducción y mitigación, y destacan el enfoque de género como principio o eje para visibilizar la necesidad de realizar revisiones y acciones diferenciadas por género. El presente artículo recoge la investigación realizada que responde a la pregunta "¿Cuáles son los elementos psicosociales que influyen en la puesta en práctica de la transversalización del enfoque de género en los procesos de la GRD de las oficinas municipales?" Esta pregunta se respondió desde la Psicología Social Comunitaria y la Psicología Social Feminista. Se realizó un estudio con enfoque cualitativo y diseño fenomenológico, en el que se aplicaron entrevistas a representantes institucionales en GRD y género. Se identificaron doce elementos psicosociales que influyen en la transversalización del enfoque de género en la GRD municipal, que deben visibilizarse y pueden ser trabajados para abordar los riesgos de dos poblaciones históricamente discriminadas: mujeres y población LGTBIQ+. Trabajar las desigualdades de género como causa subyacente del riesgo es prioritario para la GRD.
Abstract The city governments of Costa Rica have a significant role in the National Risk Management System (SNGR in Spanish) to face the multiple threats and risks that affect the country from their territories. The different frameworks and policies that work with the Disaster Risk Management approach, among which are international (e. g., Sendai Framework for Action), regional (e. g., Central American Policy for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management), and national instruments (e. g., National Risk Management Policy), promote risk analysis as a process that contributes to their reduction and mitigation, which, together with specific policies focused on gender (e. g., Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [CEDAW]), highlight the gender approach as a principle or axis, making the need to carry out reviews and actions differentiated by gender visible. The growth of inequalities in events such as disasters emphasizes the fact that there are gender differences in the perception of risks, the levels of vulnerability that exist and the capacities to cope. This article collects the research carried out that answers the question: "What are the psychosocial elements that influence the implementation of mainstreaming the gender approach in DRM processes in municipal offices?" from Community Social Psychology and Feminist Social Psychology. A study with a qualitative approach and phenomenological design was carried out, in which interviews were applied to institutional representatives in DRM and gender. The first seeks to promote processes of social transformation, considering the psychosocial processes that permeate community dynamics, which, in turn, are influenced by specific contexts. As for Feminist Psychology, it promotes the identification of inequalities and the creation of options for change. The relationship between feminist political perspectives and psychological practices and sexual and gender differences were considered as causes of inequalities, generating certain psychosocial analyzes not widely developed so far. A subjective perspective to the lived experience of the people participating in the research was considered in order to emphasize the meanings and knowledge as a process, based on interviews with institutional representatives of municipal offices and national institutions both focused on DRM or gender. Twelve psychosocial elements that influence the mainstreaming of the gender approach in municipal DRM were identified: the need for training and awareness, the requirement of political will, the naturalization of gender roles and stereotypes, the recognition of gender differences, resistance to mainstreaming gender, subjectivity, the presence or absence of inter and intra-institutional articulations, the social participation of women, the recognition of gender violence, the recognition of vulnerable populations, the cultural context and social inequalities. Moreover, gender inequalities are recognized as an element that affects and emphasizes the vulnerabilities of specific populations, such as women of different ages, transgender people, people with disabilities, among others. The research allowed an approach to ten different territorial contexts where DRM is put into practice from an office or as a process, and how the experience of the people who lead them understands the gender approach, contrasting with the institutional perspective applied at the national level. It is concluded that these should be made visible and can be worked on to address the risks of two historically discriminated populations: women and LGTBIQ+ population. Considering gender inequalities as an underlying cause of risk is a priority for Disaster Risk Management.