[Association between psychosocial aspects of work and quality of life among motorcycle taxi drivers]. / Associação entre aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e qualidade de vida de mototaxistas.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of motorcycle taxi drivers and the association with psychosocial characteristics of their work. This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study with a sample of 400 motorcycle taxi drivers in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. The study used a form containing demographic and socioeconomic data, WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Motorcycle taxi drivers with greater decision-making control over their work showed better self-rated quality of life in the psychological domain; those with high psychological demands presented better self-rated quality of life in the social relations and environmental domains; those with high strain and active work showed better self-rated quality of life in the social and environmental domains. The psychosocial work environment and especially decision-making autonomy were thus important determinants of self-rated quality of life in this group of motorcycle taxi drivers.

Social representations of adolescents on quality of life: structurally-based study.

This study sought to conduct a comparatively analysis and describe the contents of the structure of the social representations of adolescents on quality of life. It involves descriptive, quantitative research, with the benchmark of a structural approach to social representations. The informants included 316 adolescents from three public schools in Jequié in the State of Bahia. The Spontaneous Word-Choice Eliciting Technique using the key expression "Quality of Life" was used for data collection. The responses were processed using Evoc 2003 software, which generated the Four-House Chart. The results reveal the core nucleus of the terms: healthy eating; physical activity; money; and sex. In the 1st outer circle, the words absence of disease, condoms, liberty, marijuana, housing, work and living well are featured. In the 2nd outer circle, there appeared the words difficulty, family, peace and power, and the contrasting elements of well-being and soccer. The overall consensus is that adolescents associate quality of life with sports and other healthy behavior activities, and are influenced by the desires and curiosities of adolescence.

Associação entre aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e qualidade de vida de mototaxistas / Association between psychosocial aspects of work and quality of life among motorcycle taxi drivers / Asociación entre aspectos psicosociales del trabajo y calidad de vida de mototaxistas

Este estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade de vida de mototaxistas e sua relação com os aspectos psicossociais do trabalho. Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, realizado com 400 mototaxistas do Município de Jequié, Bahia, Brasil. Utilizou-se um formulário contendo dados sociodemográficos, o WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref) e o Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Os resultados evidenciaram que mototaxistas com alto controle sobre o trabalho apresentaram melhor percepção de qualidade de vida no domínio psicológico; os que possuem alta demanda psicológica apresentaram melhor percepção de qualidade de vida nos domínios relações sociais e meio ambiente; aqueles com alta exigência e com trabalho ativo apresentaram melhor percepção de qualidade de vida nos domínios relações sociais e meio ambiente. Assim, o ambiente psicossocial do trabalho, e, especialmente, o controle sobre o trabalho, são importantes determinantes da percepção da qualidade de vida dos mototaxistas.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of motorcycle taxi drivers and the association with psychosocial characteristics of their work. This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study with a sample of 400 motorcycle taxi drivers in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. The study used a form containing demographic and socioeconomic data, WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Motorcycle taxi drivers with greater decision-making control over their work showed better self-rated quality of life in the psychological domain; those with high psychological demands presented better self-rated quality of life in the social relations and environmental domains; those with high strain and active work showed better self-rated quality of life in the social and environmental domains. The psychosocial work environment and especially decision-making autonomy were thus important determinants of self-rated quality of life in this group of motorcycle taxi drivers.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la calidad de vida de los mototaxistas y su relación con los aspectos psicosociales del trabajo. Estudio epidemiológico, transversal, realizado con 400 mototaxistas del municipio de Jequié, Bahía, Brasil. Se utilizó un formulario con datos sociodemográficos, el WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref) y el Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Los resultados evidenciaron que los mototaxistas con un alto control de trabajo presentaron mejor percepción de la calidad de vida en el dominio psicológico; aquellos con una alta demanda psicológica tuvieron mejor percepción de calidad de vida en los dominios de relaciones sociales y el medio ambiente; aquellos con alta exigencia y trabajo activo mostraron mejor percepción de la calidad de vida en los dominios de relaciones sociales y medio ambiente. Así, el ambiente psicosocial del trabajo y, especialmente, el control sobre el trabajo son determinantes importantes para la percepción de la calidad de vida de los mototaxistas.

Social representations of adolescents on quality of life: structurally-based study / Representações Sociais de adolescentes sobre qualidade de vida: um estudo de base estrutural

This study sought to conduct a comparatively analysis and describe the contents of the structure of the social representations of adolescents on quality of life. It involves descriptive, quantitative research, with the benchmark of a structural approach to social representations. The informants included 316 adolescents from three public schools in Jequié in the State of Bahia. The Spontaneous Word-Choice Eliciting Technique using the key expression "Quality of Life" was used for data collection. The responses were processed using Evoc 2003 software, which generated the Four-House Chart. The results reveal the core nucleus of the terms: healthy eating; physical activity; money; and sex. In the 1st outer circle, the words absence of disease, condoms, liberty, marijuana, housing, work and living well are featured. In the 2nd outer circle, there appeared the words difficulty, family, peace and power, and the contrasting elements of well-being and soccer. The overall consensus is that adolescents associate quality of life with sports and other healthy behavior activities, and are influenced by the desires and curiosities of adolescence.

Este estudo objetivou descrever os conteúdos e analisar comparativamente a estrutura das representações sociais de adolescentes sobre qualidade de vida. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, quantitativa, com referencial na abordagem estrutural das Representações Sociais. Foram informantes 316 adolescentes de 3 escolas públicas de Jequié (BA), sendo utilizada para coleta de dados a Técnica de Evocação Livre de Palavras, através do termo indutor "Qualidade de Vida". As evocações foram processadas pelo Evoc 2003, gerando o Quadro de Quatro Casas. Os resultados revelam no núcleo central os termos, alimentação saudável, atividade física, dinheiro e sexo; na 1ª periferia as palavras, ausência de doença, camisinha, liberdade, maconha, moradia, trabalho e viver bem; na 2ª periferia as evocações, dificuldade, família, paz e poder; e os elementos de contraste foram bem-estar e futebol. Compreendeu-se que os adolescentes associam qualidade de vida à prática desportiva e outros comportamentos saudáveis, estando influenciados pelos desejos e curiosidades da adolescência.

[Long-term care institutions for the elderly and their structural coupling with the surrounding social systems]. / Acoplamento estrutural das instituições de longa permanência para idosos com sistemas societais do entorno.

This study was performed in six Long-Term Care Institutions for the Elderly (LTCIEs) that helped low-income senior citizens in three regions of the country. Its aim is to examine how LTCIEs' internal organizational system maintained structural coupling with surrounding systems. The data were collected through interviews and observation. The analysis was based on concepts of Luhmann's Social Systems Theory. As a result, the rules of belonging did not encourage aid proposals that stimulated independent life and the individuality of residents. The structural couplings with the external environment generated negative resonance within LTCIEs, such as the lack of links to programmatic actions of public primary health care, inability to maintain a multiprofessional staff, inability to fully adapt the infrastructure, and inability to bring reçatives closer to the institution's daily routine. As a positive aspect, the staff was empowered by the presence of students and their professors.

[Alcohol consumption and associated factors in a city in Northeast Brazil]. / Perfil do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e fatores associados em um município do Nordeste do Brasil.

This cross-sectional study focused on alcohol consumption according to gender, age, income, and schooling in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. The random sample consisted of 270 individuals over 14 years of age living in the urban area of Jequié from January to March 2010. Alcohol consumption was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Of the total sample, 21.8% consumed four or more drinks on a typical day, 14.1% admitted having caused any harm after drinking, and 26.3% reported that someone had already suggested they should stop drinking. Forty percent of men had more than four drinks on a typical day, and 50.5% of young people drank frequently. Distribution of the variables was consistent with higher frequency and greater amounts of alcohol among men and young people. There was a large proportion of heavy episodic alcohol consumption. The study identified vulnerable groups that are still not addicted to alcohol, and that should be targeted for public health promotion and prevention policies.

Perfil do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e fatores associados em um município do Nordeste do Brasil / Alcohol consumption and associated factors in a city in Northeast Brazil

This cross-sectional study focused on alcohol consumption according to gender, age, income, and schooling in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. The random sample consisted of 270 individuals over 14 years of age living in the urban area of Jequié from January to March 2010. Alcohol consumption was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Of the total sample, 21.8 percent consumed four or more drinks on a typical day, 14.1 percent admitted having caused any harm after drinking, and 26.3 percent reported that someone had already suggested they should stop drinking. Forty percent of men had more than four drinks on a typical day, and 50.5 percent of young people drank frequently. Distribution of the variables was consistent with higher frequency and greater amounts of alcohol among men and young people. There was a large proportion of heavy episodic alcohol consumption. The study identified vulnerable groups that are still not addicted to alcohol, and that should be targeted for public health promotion and prevention policies.

Estudo transversal que objetivou verificar o perfil do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas de acordo com sexo, idade, renda e escolaridade na população urbana de Jequié, Bahia, Brasil. Amostra aleatória composta por 270 indivíduos maiores de 14 anos residentes na zona urbana, pesquisados entre janeiro e março de 2010. Como instrumento utilizou-se o Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Os resultados mostraram que 21,8 por cento consomem quatro ou mais doses em dia típico; 14,1 por cento admitiram já terem causado algum prejuízo após ter bebido; 26,3 por cento relataram que alguém já sugeriu que parasse de beber; entre os homens 40 por cento bebem mais que quatro doses no dia típico; 50,5 por cento dos jovens bebem com alguma frequência. A distribuição característica das variáveis estudadas é compatível com maior frequência e quantidade de uso de álcool entre os homens e entre os jovens. A ocorrência do padrão de consumo pesado episódico de álcool foi marcante. São apresentados grupos vulneráveis, ainda não considerados dependentes e que também devem ser alvo de políticas públicas de promoção da saúde e prevenção.

Acoplamento estrutural das instituições de longa permanência para idosos com sistemas societais do entorno / Acoplamiento estructural de los hogares para ancianos con los sistemas sociales de su entorno / The homes for the aged and its structural coupling with the surrounding social systems

Estudo em seis Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos (ILPIs), destinadas a idosos de baixa renda, em três regiões do país, com o objetivo de analisar como o sistema organizacional interno das ILPIs mantinha acoplamento estrutural com sistemas do entorno. Os dados foram coletados por observação e entrevista e a análise fundamentou-se nas concepções da Teoria Luhmanniana de Sistemas Sociais. Como resultado, as regras de pertencimento não promoviam propostas assistenciais que contemplassem o estímulo à vida autônoma e exercício da individualidade dos residentes. Os acoplamentos estruturais com o meio externo geravam ressonâncias negativas nas ILPIs, como ausência de vínculo com as ações programáticas do serviço público de atenção básica de saude, impossibilidade de manter equipe multiprofissional, de adequar totalmente a infraestrutura e de remover a distância dos familiares da rotina. Como ressonância positiva, havia a potecialização da equipe pela presença de estudantes e respectivos docentes.

Estudio realizado en seis Instituciones de Permanencia Prolongada para Ancianos (ILPIs), destinadas a los ancianos con bajos salarios en tres regiones del país, con el objetivo de analizar como el sistema organizacional interno de las ILPIs mantenía un acoplamiento estructural con los sistemas del entorno. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de la observación, entrevista, y el análisis se fundamentó en las concepciones de la Teoría Luhmanniana de los Sistemas Sociales. Como resultado, las reglas de propiedad no promovían propuestas asistenciales que contemplasen el estímulo a la vida autónoma y al ejercicio de la individualidad de los residentes. Los acoplamientos estructurales con el medio externo generaban aspectos negativos en las ILPIs, como la ausencia de vínculo con las acciones programáticas del servicio público de atención básica de la salud; imposibilidad de mantener al equipo multiprofesional, adecuarse totalmente a la infraestructura y a la distancia de los familiares de la rutina. En relación al aspecto positivo, existía la potencialización del equipo, como la presencia de estudiantes y de los respectivos docentes.

Study performed in six Long-Stay Institutions to the Elderly (ILPIs) for low-income senior citizens, in three regions of the country, with the aim of examining how the ILPIs internal and organizational system used to keep structural coupling with the surrounding systems. Data were collected through interviews, observation and the analysis was based on concepts of the Luhmann Theory from Social Systems. As a result, the belonging rules did not encourage aid proposals to contemplate the stimulus for independent life and individuality of the residents. The structural couplings with the external environment used to generate negative aspects within the ILPIs, such as lack of bonding with programmatic actions of the public service for basic health care, inability to maintain the multidisciplinary team and fully adapt the infrastructure and distance from relatives to that routine. As a positive aspect, there was a team potentialization with the presence of students and professors.