Understanding the Association between Musical Sophistication and Well-Being in Music Students.

Quality of life and mental health are topics under discussion in the university environment that pose new educational challenges. Public policy in Chile establishes the need to track students who are starting university and who could find themselves at possible academic risk (Law 20. 903). These transition processes experienced by students therefore need to be guided to improve the students' quality of life. Using a mixed design, the present study analyzes the association between musical sophistication (Ollen, 2006), students' well-being, and the performance of first-year students training to be music teachers (n = 25). The Ollen Musical Sophistication questionnaire and the Spanish version of the PERMA-profiler, a questionnaire for assessing well-being, were applied. In order to obtain detailed information about learning processes and educational needs, seven interviews were conducted. Results indicate a negative correlation between musical sophistication on the one hand and negative emotions (anxiety and anger) and loneliness on the other. This is reflected in less consistent academic performance, difficulties in identity development, and reduced motivation to face new challenges besides musical learning. We concluded that knowledge and observation of students' previous musical experience is crucial for understanding and supporting the educational transition process and well-being of student music teachers.

Involucramiento político y representaciones sociales de la democracia en argentina / Envolvimento político e representações sociais de democracia na argentina / Political involvement and social representations of democracy in argentina

RESUMEN El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer las representaciones sociales (RS) de la democracia en función del involucramiento político. Las RS juegan un rol en la conformación de actitudes y comportamientos y pueden ayudarnos a comprender la reconocida desafección política de la ciudadanía (Dahlberg, Linde, & Holberg, 2013). Para ello, se tomó una muestra cuotificada por sexo, edad y nivel socioeconómico de 454 personas de Córdoba (AR). Se aplicó la técnica de asociación de palabras para conocer las RS de democracia y un cuestionario cerrado para evaluar involucramiento político. Los resultados evidenciaron RS restringidas, electoralistas y liberales de la democracia. Además, la percepción de su funcionamiento real fue negativa. Los grupos que se involucraban políticamente generaron RS más sofisticadas y asignaron mayor protagonismo a la ciudadanía.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer as representações sociais (RS) de democracia em função do envolvimento político. As RS desempenham um papel na definição de atitudes e comportamentos e podem nos ajudar a entender o distanciamento político dos cidadãos (Dahlberg, Linde, & Holberg, 2013). Foi realizada uma amostra cuotificada por sexo, idade e status socioeconómico de 454 cidadãos da Córdoba (AR). Para conhecer a RS da democracia aplicamos a técnica de associação de palavras e, para avaliar envolvimento político, um questionário fechado. Os resultados mostraram RS focadas em visões eleitorais restritas e liberais da democracia. Também, a percepção de seu funcionamento real foi negativa. Os grupos mais envolvidos politicamente podem gerar RS mais sofisticados e atribuir maior protagonismo à cidadania que aqueles que não estavam envueltos.

ABSTRACT The main objective of this work was to describe the social representations (SRs) of democracy as a function of political involvement. SRs play a role in shaping attitudes and behaviors and can help us to understand the political disaffection of citizens (Dahlberg, Linde, & Holberg, 2013). We took a sample quoted by sex, age and socioeconomic status of 454 Cordoba's (AR) citizens. The word association technique was applied to access SRs of democracy and a questionnaire to evaluate political involvement. The results showed RS centered on restricted, electoral and liberal views of democracy. In addition, the perception of its actual functioning was mainly negative. The politically involved groups generated more sophisticated SRs and assign greater protagonism to citizenship than noninvolved ones.