Comparación del bienestar psicológico de personas mayores dominicanas y españolas / Comparison of psychological well-being among Dominican and Spanish elders

Introducción El bienestar y su relación con diferentes variables se ha convertido en los últimos años en un aspecto central en los trabajos de Gerontología. Dada su importancia, este trabajo examina diferentes factores que potencialmente pueden influir en el bienestar psicológico de las personas mayores. Material y métodos La investigación, de carácter transcultural, se basa en una encuesta que se realizó a 2 muestras de personas mayores de 65 años, una de la República Dominicana (n=1.296) y otra de España (n=476), extraídas, respectivamente, mediante muestreo estratificado y por cuotas. Los análisis incluyen datos estadísticos descriptivos, correlaciones y análisis de covarianza multivariado.Resultados En el conjunto de ambas muestras, los factores sociodemográficos tuvieron un efecto, tanto multivariante como univariante, sobre el bienestar. Sin embargo, los tamaños de los efectos fueron, en general, bastante bajos, alcanzando la significación fundamentalmente los efectos aislados de los factores. La edad se relacionó negativamente con el bienestar. Respecto al estado civil, los sujetos casados tuvieron mayores grados en algunos de los factores de bienestar. Los niveles de estudio más altos se asociaban también a mayores grados en alguno de los factores de bienestar. El efecto de mayor tamaño fue el correspondiente a país; los sujetos dominicanos presentaron un grado de bienestar menor, incluso al controlar estadísticamente el resto de los factores.Conclusiones Una primera conclusión es que los factores sociodemográficos estudiados no actúan diferencialmente en ambos países, dada la baja capacidad explicativa de las interacciones entre factores. No obstante, hay un efecto sistemático de los factores sociodemográficos, independientemente (..) (AU)

Introduction Well-being and its association with distinct factors have played a central role in the arena of psychogerontology research. Given the importance of this topic, the present study examined several factors that could influence well-being among the elderly of two countries. Material and methods This cross-cultural study was based on a survey of two samples of elderly people, one from the Dominican Republic (N=1,296) and another from Spain (N=476), sampled, respectively, by stratification and quota sampling. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations and a multivariate analysis of covariance. Results Overall, sociodemographic factors were found to affect well-being both in the univariate and multivariate analyses. Nevertheless, the effect sizes were, in general, rather low. These effects were basically due to main effects rather than interactions. Age was negatively related to well-being. Marriage was associated with the highest levels of some well-being dimensions. The highest educational levels were also associated with higher levels of some well-being dimensions. The largest effect was due to country, with Dominicans scoring lower on all well-being dimensions, even after statistically controlling for other factors.Conclusions A main conclusion of this study was that sociodemographic factors did not differentially affect the two countries, given the rather low interaction effects. However, systematic effects were found for sociodemographic factors, independently of country. These effects were analyzed in light of the distinction between subjective and psychological well-being, and the data failed to support the idea of a different profile of results on these two types of well-being dimensions. Finally, given the large effect of country on all well-being dimensions, the relative importance of several sociopolitical and cultural factors was analyzed (AU)

[Comparison of psychological well-being among Dominican and Spanish elders]. / Comparación del bienestar psicológico de personas mayores dominicanas y españolas.

INTRODUCTION: Well-being and its association with distinct factors have played a central role in the arena of psychogerontology research. Given the importance of this topic, the present study examined several factors that could influence well-being among the elderly of two countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-cultural study was based on a survey of two samples of elderly people, one from the Dominican Republic (N=1,296) and another from Spain (N=476), sampled, respectively, by stratification and quota sampling. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations and a multivariate analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Overall, sociodemographic factors were found to affect well-being both in the univariate and multivariate analyses. Nevertheless, the effect sizes were, in general, rather low. These effects were basically due to main effects rather than interactions. Age was negatively related to well-being. Marriage was associated with the highest levels of some well-being dimensions. The highest educational levels were also associated with higher levels of some well-being dimensions. The largest effect was due to country, with Dominicans scoring lower on all well-being dimensions, even after statistically controlling for other factors. CONCLUSIONS: A main conclusion of this study was that sociodemographic factors did not differentially affect the two countries, given the rather low interaction effects. However, systematic effects were found for sociodemographic factors, independently of country. These effects were analyzed in light of the distinction between subjective and psychological well-being, and the data failed to support the idea of a different profile of results on these two types of well-being dimensions. Finally, given the large effect of country on all well-being dimensions, the relative importance of several sociopolitical and cultural factors was analyzed.

Bienestar y calidad de vida en ancianos institucionalizados y no institucionalizados / Well-being and life quality among old people living and not living in institutions for the elderly

La mejora de la calidad de vida debe constituir un objetivo prioritario en la intervención con las personas mayores. De este modo y como objetivo general para nuestro trabajo se analizaron las diferencias que existen en una muestra de 111 ancianos institucionalizados y no institucionalizados, en uno de los elementos que componen la calidad de vida, el bienestar. Como principales resultados destacaron el inferior nivel de satisfacción que tienen los institucionalizados en los aspectos relacionales así como la insatisfacción que les producen los aspectos relativos a la seguridad. Además, se observó que mientras en el bienestar psicológico no existen diferencias entre ambos grupos, los factores propios del bienestar subjetivo mostraron diferencias, siendo las puntuaciones de los ancianos instiucionalizados inferiores

Life quality improvement should constitute a priority in intervention with the elderly. In order to accomplish this objective a careful consideration of potential differences between elder people living in institutions and those living within a familiar context, with respect to wellbeing, is needed to better plan psychological interventions. Therefore a comparison of both groups of elder people was performed. Results shown a lower level of satisfaction of the group living in institutions compared to those living in a family context. Concretely, differences were found in social relationships and support and also perceived security levels. With respect to wellbeing, there were no differences between both groups in psychological wellbeing, but elder people living in institutions had lower level of subjective wellbeing than those living within a familiar context

Análisis cualitativo del bienestar en la vejez / Qualitative analysis of well-being in the elderly

Introducción: analizar el concepto de bienestar que tienen los mayores es una de las bases para desarrollar políticas de calidad de vida. En el presente trabajo se analizan las variables generadoras de bienestar a partir de valoraciones personales y se compara la percepción del bienestar entre varones y mujeres. Material y métodos: los resultados se obtuvieron mediante un análisis cualitativo de las respuestas dadas por 111 personas ancianas en una entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados: destacan los elementos familiares y sociales como las categorías más satisfactorias frente a los elementos de seguridad como los más insatisfactorios. Además hubo una importante tendencia a sentirse satisfecho con la propia historia de vida. En cuanto a las diferencias de sexo se observó que los elementos de satisfacción mantienen patrones diferentes, mientras que los de insatisfacción y cambios mantienen un patrón similar. Además, es relevante indicar que la soledad tiene una posición prevalente en mujeres frente a los varones. Conclusiones: los resultados son coherentes con los modelos de bienestar subjetivo, donde aparece un balance entre las situaciones de placer y de displacer. Así, la noción de bienestar expresada hizo referencia al sentimiento de felicidad, de posición en la vida con un alto significado relacional

Introduction: analysis of well-being in the elderly is one of the bases for developing policies on quality of life. In the present study, variables of well-being generated from personal assessments are analyzed and perception of well-being is compared between men and women. Material and methods: results were obtained through qualitative analysis of the responses given by a sample of 111 elderly people to a semi-structured interview. Results: the most satisfactory categories were familial and social elements while the least satisfactory categories concerned safety elements. There was a marked tendency among elderly individuals to feel satisfied with their life histories. Elements giving rise to satisfaction showed different patterns between men and women while those leading to dissatisfaction and to change showed a similar pattern. Notably, loneliness occupied a more prevalent position in women than in men. Conclusions: the results of the present study are coherent with subjective models of well-being, with a balance between situations of pleasure and displeasure. Thus, the expressed notion of well-being made reference to feelings of happiness and of having a position in life and to the importance of relationships