A Successful Aging Model Based on Personal Resources, Self-Care, and Life Satisfaction.

The most internationally studied models of successful aging defend that there are several pillars for a good aging: absence of disease, good cognitive and physical function, a high commitment and social activity, social capital, personal resources, life satisfaction, and spirituality. This study examines the relationships between personal resources, perceived social support, hope, spirituality, self-care and subjective well-being variables, as bases for a successful aging. One thousand and sixteen community-dwelling Spanish adults, aged 55-92 years, participated in the study. Information on variables assessed was collected using self-reported questionnaires. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural models with latent variables relating all indicators and factors were estimated. The structural model positing background variables affecting personal resources which then affected self-care behaviors and finally affected life satisfaction was supported by the data. The model results emphasize the importance of personality, because largely affects the use of personal resources. The three selected personal resources (support, hope and spirituality) favor self-care behaviors. And finally, these behaviors improved life satisfaction in the old age. This result is of particular importance when policies for a successful and satisfactory aging of the population have to be designed.

Diferencias de sexo en el uso de estrategias de afrontamiento en personas con lesión medular / Gender Differences in the Use of Coping Strategies by Persons with a Spinal Cord Injury / Diferenças de sexo no uso de estratégias de enfrentamento em pessoas com lesão medular

RESUMEN Objetivo: profundizar en la experiencia de afrontamiento en personas con lesión medular (LM), teniendo en cuenta tanto el afrontamiento actual como el afrontamiento durante momentos iniciales tras sufrir la LM. Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal de encuesta. Participaron 127 personas con LM de larga evolución, 95 hombres y 32 mujeres. Los datos fueron recogidos por medio de un cuestionario online con información sociodemográfica y el Cuestionario de Afrontamiento del Estrés (CAE). Se han realizado análisis descriptivos, pruebas t de Student y análisis multivariados de la varianza (Manovas). Resultados: las comparaciones intrasujetos muestran que la estrategia de focalización en solución de problemas se usa más en el afrontamiento actual. La autofocalización negativa es más utilizada en el afrontamiento pasado, en los momentos iniciales tras sufrir la LM. Los resultados de los Manovas muestran que no existen diferencias en función del sexo en el afrontamiento rememorado ni en el actual. Los Anova de seguimiento para el afrontamiento actual evidencian que las mujeres utilizan más las estrategias de búsqueda de apoyo social y expresión emocional abierta. Conclusiones: no hay diferencias de sexo en el uso de las estrategias de afrontamiento en la LM. Se sugiere seguir investigando cómo el género puede actuar en este proceso.

ABSTRACT Objective: Delve into the experience of coping on the part of persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI), contemplating both current coping and coping during the initial moments after suffering a SCI. Materials and methods: This is cross-sectional survey. The participants included 127 persons with long-term SCI: 95 men and 32 women. The information was collected through an online questionnaire with sociodemographic information and through the Stress Coping Questionnaire (CAE). Descriptive analyzes, student t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance (Manovas) were conducted. Results: Intrasubject comparisons show the strategy focused on problem-solving is used more in current coping. Negative self-targeting was used more in past coping, during the initial moments after suffering the ML. The results of the Manovas show there are no gender differences in remembered coping or in current coping. The follow-up Anova for current coping shows women make more use of strategies involving a search for social support and open emotional expression. Conclusions: There are no gender differences in the use of coping strategies in the case of ML. It is suggested that further research be done on how gender can act in this process.

RESUMO Objetivo: aprofundar na experiência de enfrentamento em pessoas com lesão medular (LM), contemplando tanto o enfrentamento atual quanto o enfrentamento durante momentos iniciais após sofrer a LM. Materiais e métodos: estudo transversal com questionário. Participaram 127 pessoas com LM de longa evolução, 95 homens e 32 mulheres. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário on-line com informação sociodemográfica e pelo Questionário de Enfrentamento do Estresse. Foram realizadas análises descritivas, testes t de Student e análises multivariadas da variância (Manovas). Resultados: as comparações realizadas intrassujeitos mostram que a estratégia de focalização em solução de problemas se usa mais no enfrentamento atual. A autofocalização negativa é mais utilizada no enfrentamento passado, nos momentos iniciais logo após sofrer a LM. Os resultados das Manovas mostram que não há diferenças em função do sexo no enfrentamento recordado nem no atual. As Anova de seguimento para o enfrentamento atual evidenciam que as mulheres utilizam mais as estratégias de busca de apoio social e expressão emocional aberta. Conclusões: não se constataram diferenças de sexo no uso das estratégias de enfrentamento na LM. Sugere-se continuar pesquisando como o gênero pode agir nesse processo.

The relationship of sexism and gender ideology to self-concept and self-esteem in persons with spinal cord injury / Relaciones entre sexismo e ideología de género con autoconcepto y autoestima en personas con LM

Adjustment to an unexpected physical disability is usually complex and multidimensional. Many variables may affect this adjustment, a process that would facilitate or limit adequate vital adjustment and psychological well-being. This research dealt with the specific effects that sexism and gender stereotypes have on the self-concept and self-esteem of people with spinal injuries. The research was a cross-sectional survey. The sample consisted of 127 people with long tern spinal injuries, 95 of them were men and 32 were women. MANOVAs were calculated to test for gender differences on self-esteem, self-concept, traditional sexism and neosexism. No significant differences were found. Additionally sexism measures were correlated to self-esteem and self-concept for both men and women. Results have shown that men with highest levels of neosexism had lower levels of emotional and family self-concept. That result did not hold for women, suggesting a buffer of gender on sexism and self-concept relationships. Discussion suggests the relevant role that intervention programs may play to improve gender equality in order to reduce sexism

El proceso de adaptación a una discapacidad física sobrevenida es complejo y multidimensional. En él influyen muchas variables que pueden condicionar un adecuado ajuste vital y conseguir bienestar psicológico. Este estudio aborda los efectos específicos del sexismo y los estereotipos de género en la autoestima y autoconcepto de las personas con lesión medular (LM). El diseño es transversal y correlacional. La muestra está constituida por 127 personas con lesión medular de larga evolución, 95 varones y 32 mujeres. Los resultados de los MANOVAS no muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del género en las siguientes variables: Autoestima, Autoconcepto, Sexismo Tradicional y Neosexismo. Las relaciones entre variables sugieren que existen relaciones negativas entre neosexismo, autoestima y autoconcepto emocional y familiar en varones con LM, pero no en mujeres con LM. La discusión plantea el relevante papel que pueden tener los programas de intervención que fomenten la igualdad de género para disminuir el sexismo