Estrategias de afrontamiento en relación con los eventos estresantes que ocurren al envejecer / Coping strategies in relation to the stressful events when aging

OBJETIVOS: Describir cuáles son los tipos de afrontamiento (coping) que se utilizan frente a los eventos estresantes que ocurren al envejecer y analizar cuáles son las variables asociadas al uso de estos tipos de afrontamiento, considerando el tipo de evento estresante -problema, pérdida, conflicto o problema de otro- y recursos individuales y sociales. MÉTODO: Datos de una encuesta representativa aplicada a 1,431 personas entre 60 y 94 años de edad (media = 71.9; DE = 7.9), residentes en sus viviendas en Santiago de Chile. Dos fases de análisis: análisis factorial exploratorio de una lista de posibles formas de afrontamiento, donde se identificaron 3 dimensiones: activo, evasivo y búsqueda de ayuda; y análisis de regresión logística multivariada sobre cada uno de estos 3 tipos de afrontamiento. RESULTADOS: Para los problemas se usó más el afrontamiento activo y la búsqueda de ayuda, frente a los conflictos se utilizó más el evasivo. Con la edad disminuyó la búsqueda de ayuda; a mayor educación más afrontamiento activo y menos evasivo; a mayor autoeficacia mayor afrontamiento activo; a menor disponibilidad de apoyo social mayor evitación. No hubo asociación con género controlando por las otras variables de los modelos. CONCLUSIONES: Se confirma la pertinencia de distinguir estos 3 tipos de afrontamiento, ya que los predictores se comportaron de distinta manera en cada uno de ellos

OBJECTIVE: To describe the strategies of coping with the stressful events that occur when aging and to analyze the variables associated with them, considering the type of stressful event -problem, loss, conflict or problems with others- and individual and social resources. METHOD: Data from a representative survey applied to 1,431 elderly people (60-94 years old; mean age = 71.9; SD = 7.9), residing in their homes in Santiago, Chile. Two phases of analysis: Exploratory factor analysis of a list of possible forms of coping, where three dimensions were identified: active, evasive and seeking help; and multivariate logistic regression analysis on each of these 3 types of coping. RESULTS: Regarding problems, older people used more active coping, including the search of help, whereas in the face of conflict, they were more evasive. With age, the search for help diminished; the higher the education, the more active and less evasive coping; with higher self-efficacy, greater active coping; with less availability of social support, greater avoidance. There was no association with gender when controlling for other variables of the models. CONCLUSION: The relevance of distinguishing these 3 types of coping is confirmed, since predictors behaved differently in each case

[Validation of a brief screening test to assess functional capacity in Chilean older people]. / Validación de un test breve para el diagnóstico de capacidad funcional en adultos mayores en Chile.

BACKGROUND: The Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ) is a validated instrument used in Chile to diagnose dependency in older people. AIM: To suggest a shorter and easier version of the PFAQ, with appropriate levels of sensitivity and specificity, which may be applied to the general older population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three Chilean surveys applied to older people were used, namely the Survey of Life Events of the Elderly, (n = 1,371) and the 2010 and 2013 National Surveys of Quality of Life of Older People (n = 1,954 and 2,644 respectively). To evaluate the instrument, we performed correlation analysis between items and principal components analysis. We calculated internal consistency using Cronbach alpha, we computed sensitivity and specificity indicators, and analyzed convergent and predictive validity. RESULTS: After constructing different scales, the one that gave more information and had the best balance between sensitivity and specificity was chosen. Items with less weight factor and greater gender bias were eliminated, keeping seven questions from the original PFAQ. Reliability was verified using Cronbach alpha's coefficient and from correlations between the new instrument and key variables. CONCLUSIONS: According to our goals, the proposed scale is solely conformed by items that do not have gender bias. It discriminates in the general population adequately, allowing the design of a shorter test, of easier implementation.

Validación de un test breve para el diagnóstico de capacidad funcional en adultos mayores en Chile / Validation of a brief screening test to assess functional capacity in Chilean older people

Background: The Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ) is a validated instrument used in Chile to diagnose dependency in older people. Aim: To suggest a shorter and easier version of the PFAQ, with appropriate levels of sensitivity and specificity, which may be applied to the general older population. Material and Methods: Three Chilean surveys applied to older people were used, namely the Survey of Life Events of the Elderly, (n = 1,371) and the 2010 and 2013 National Surveys of Quality of Life of Older People (n = 1,954 and 2,644 respectively). To evaluate the instrument, we performed correlation analysis between items and principal components analysis. We calculated internal consistency using Cronbach alpha, we computed sensitivity and specificity indicators, and analyzed convergent and predictive validity. Results: After constructing different scales, the one that gave more information and had the best balance between sensitivity and specificity was chosen. Items with less weight factor and greater gender bias were eliminated, keeping seven questions from the original PFAQ. Reliability was verified using Cronbach alpha s coefficient and from correlations between the new instrument and key variables. Conclusions: According to our goals, the proposed scale is solely conformed by items that do not have gender bias. It discriminates in the general population adequately, allowing the design of a shorter test, of easier implementation.