aproximación a una visión positiva de la salud en el trabajo a través del sentido de coherencia / Approach to a positive vision of health in the workplace through the sense of coherence

La teoría salutogénica tiene múltiples aplicaciones, tantas como campos de acción tiene el ser humano en los diferentes ambientes en los cuales vive y se desarrolla, uno de estos campos de acción es el trabajo. El desarrollo de la salud en general, así como dentro del lugar de trabajo en particular, es un complejo fenómeno que podría explorarse desde la perspectiva salutogénica. En contraposición los factores de riesgo y la enfermedad son el centro de atención desde la perspectiva patogénica. Este articulo tiene como objetivo realizar un breve recuento teórico sobre algunos de los conceptos desarrollados por la teoría de la salutogénesis y específicamente del concepto de sentido de coherencia y sus implicaciones en la contribución a lograr espacios de trabajo orientados a la salud positiva como una de las estrategias de la promoción de la salud en los ambientes laborales. Esta revisión está basada principalmente en el capítulo 20 sobre aplicaciones de la salutogénesis en el trabajo publicado en el Manual sobre Salutogénesis en el cual los editores realizan una revisión y actualización de los diferentes campos de aplicación de esta teoría(AU)

The salutogenic theory has multiple applications, as fields of action has the human being in the different environments in which lives and develops, one of these fields of action is the work. The development of health in general, as well as within the workplace in particular, is a complex phenomenon that could be explored the salutogenic perspective. In contrast risk factors and disease are the center of attention from a pathogenetic perspective. This article aims to conduct a brief theoretical recount on some of the concepts developed by the salutogenesis theory and specifically of the concept of sense of coherence and its implications in the contribution to spaces of work focused on the positive health as one of the strategies for the promotion of the health in the work environment. This review is mainly based on Chapter 20 about the salutogenesis applications in the work published in the Handbook on Salutogenesis (1) in which the editors performed a review and update of the different fields of application(AU)

The promotion of older adults' sense of coherence through Person-Centered Therapy: A randomized controlled pilot study

El objetivo del estudio que se informa fue explorar si una intervención individual de terapia centrada en la persona (TCP) en personas adultas mayores puede promover su sentido de coherencia, en comparación con un grupo control (lista de espera). Se plantea que los participantes asignados al azar a TCP informarían mejoras en SDC de pre y post-intervención en comparación con el grupo control. Un grupo de 87 participantes de 65 a 86 años (M = 72.4; DE = 5.15) fue evaluado con la Escala de Sentido de Coherencia (ESDC) y el cuestionario sociodemográfico en tres momentos diferentes: al inicio del estudio (t1), post-tratamiento (t2) y a los 12 meses de seguimiento (t3). Los resultados indicaron que los participantes en TCP evidenciaron un aumento significativo en cuanto a su SDC (16.7%), mientras que en el grupo control se encontró una disminución significativa (-2.7%), entre el inicio del estudio y el momento de seguimiento. El tamaño del efecto en el grupo TCP fue alto (n²p= .776). En concreto, tanto en la post-intervención como en el momento del seguimiento, los participantes que se sometieron a TCP tenían un SDC significativamente mayor (M = 3.84, DE = .219). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el grupo de intervención y el grupo control en la post-intervención y en el seguimiento. Se concluye que los cambios en SDC fueron positivos y mantenidos, por lo tanto, los resultados sugieren que la TCP es favorable a la mejora de SDC. Por otra parte, ya que la SDC se asocia con el bienestar relacionado con la salud de las poblaciones de mayor edad, hay que enfatizar el desarrollo de SDC en la vejez.

Sense of Coherence (SOC) derived from the salutogenic approach and seems to be a health promoting resource, which strengthens resilience and develops a positive subjective state of health. Older adults' SOC is often challenged by specific issues in later adulthood such as grieving for losses, illness, feelings of worthless and solitude, retirement, disability and death, which require distinctive consideration. To our best knowledge, there are no previous studies that indicated the relation between a person-centered therapy (PCT) and older adults' SOC. Therefore, this study aims to explore if a brief eight-session individual PCT intervention on older adults can promote their SOC, as compared with a control group (waiting list). Specifically, this is a randomized controlled pilot study designed to explore the promotion of SOC through an individual-based PCT intervention. We posited that participants randomized to PCT would report improvements in SOC from the pre- to the post-intervention moments when compared to those on the waiting list. The Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OtLQ) and demographics were assessed at the baseline (t1), post-treatment (t2) and at the 12-month follow-up (t3), in a group of 87 participants between 65 - 86 years (M = 72.4; SD = 5.15), from community and health centers in the Great Lisbon area, in Portugal. Participants were mostly women (59.8%), married (65.5%) and professionally inactive (63.2%). The Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for SOCS were .878, .989, and .988, in the three moments, respectively. Inclusion criteria determined their eligibility to participate in the study. No participant with a compromised cognitive function integrated the sample. All potential participants were given a brief description of the study and gave their informed consent. After the baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The eight-session intervention was conducted in an adequate setting and with a weekly frequency. Comparisons between the three assessments (t1, t2 and t3) for the two groups were done using Repeated Measures ANOVA. Post-hoc Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test for mean differences was used to compare the three assessments for the SOC, in each group (PCT and waiting list). After the intervention, a significant increase of 17.3% (M = 3.86, SD = .218) was observed in the participants who did the PCT. The SOC evidence dat follow-up (t3) (M = 3.84, SD = .219) by these participants was significantly higher (16.7%) in comparison to the baseline score (M = 3.29, SD = .245). Conversely, participants in the control group experienced a minor decrease between baseline (M = 3.28, SD = .236) and follow-up (M = 3.19, SD = .244) (- 2.7%). The effect size in the PCT group was high (n²p = .776). Significant differences between the intervention group and the control group were found at the post-intervention and follow-up. Findings also showed that participants in PCT experienced an increment in the three dimensions of SOC. The highest increase was observed in the Comprehensibility dimension (71.2%). Manageability and Meaningfulness sub-scales showed an increase of 32.9% and 12.1%, respectively. Changes in SOC were positive and maintained, thus, findings suggest that PCT is favorable to enhancing SOC. In particular, for the participants who did PCT, the significant increase of their SOC was mainly due to the high increase of the comprehensibility of events. This study contributed to filling a gap in gerontological literature and this intervention has the potential to offer a reasonably low-cost self-regulatory approach to the SOC. In this context, PCT is also a personal resource to promote SOC, in late adulthood. Moreover, since SOC is associated with health-related well-being among older populations, SOC development in old age should be stressed.