evaluations of the quality of life in semi-able older men and women. This is a qualitative resear... more evaluations of the quality of life in semi-able older men and women. This is a qualitative research that includes indepth interviews to semi-able seniors over 60 years old in the Metropolitan Region. The analysis was executed with the assistance of Atlas ti 5.0 software. The results show that the dimensions that affected the perceived quality of life of semi-able older people were economy, family and health; gender differences were observed in their hierarchy and manifestation. The analysis suggests that the quality of life dimensions are not absolute. Thus, we propose an interpretative diagram that understands the dimensions as conditions and environments, and incorporates the experiences as well as individual understanding and social meanings, assuming that the quality of life is neither positive nor negative, good nor bad. Instead, its perception will depend on the condition from which is evaluated and
Quality of life (QOL) of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should b... more Quality of life (QOL) of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate socioeconomic and individual determinants of QOL of older subjects living in metropolitan Santiago, Chile. We first carried out a qualitative phase with focus groups of older people. According to the conclusions of the focus groups, a questionnaire about QOL was devised and added to the WhoQoL (World Health Organization Quality of Life) and WHOQoL-Old brief questionnarires. The final document with 85 questions was applied to healthy older subjects living in the community. A total of 1,676 subjects aged 71.8±7.4 years (1,189 women) took part in the survey. A multiple stepwise regression model showed that a higher socioeconomic level, a better educational level, performing voluntary work, having a partner, participating in groups with other older people, and being younger were factors independently associated with a higher QOL. A principal components analysis showed that psychological health and social relationships were the main domains that explained the total quality of life score. Psychological health and social relationships were the main determinants of QOL in this sample of older Chilean people living in metropolitan Santiago
The research, which results are presented here, is related to a subjective perspective of the qua... more The research, which results are presented here, is related to a subjective perspective of the quality of life of older people living in Santiago of Chile, ie the point of view of older people was studied. The research raises the hypothesis that other factors on older adults’ quality of life are as important as biomedical, such as: autonomy degrees, interactions and social networks, economic conditions, housing and urban environment, recreational and leisure activities, relationship with caregivers, ability to make decisions at this stage of life, and even biographical dimension would influence in the perception of their quality of life. These factors refer to particular socio-cultural aspects not only of an age group, but also of a culture. The development of the study has considered working with two production techniques of qualitative data: focus groups and in-depth interviews. This presentation will describe the results obtained through the implementation of this qualitative rese...
The following paper is the result of a survey conducted during the year 2006, which took place du... more The following paper is the result of a survey conducted during the year 2006, which took place during the month of april, where three newspapers of wide circulation in our country -Las Ultimas Noticias, La Cuarta y El Mercuriowas analyzed with the purpose of describing the images and stereotypes about aging in Chile and analyze the social imaginary, both current as possible on this subject.
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis' approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60-74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
This study uses an interpretive narrative approach to compare and contrast assumptions regarding ... more This study uses an interpretive narrative approach to compare and contrast assumptions regarding social integration (participation in meaningful and multiple roles, and engagement in social networks) as promoted in the Chilean Comprehensive Policy for Positive Aging, with the expectations of interviewees aged 60 to 74 years. The Policy assumes specific forms of social integration by: offering different options of social integration to dependent vs. independent older people, encouraging autonomy and self-management, and assuming the primacy of family responsibility in older people's care. Both the Policy and the interviewees emphasize the value of autonomy and independence in old age; the latter, however, do not place family at the frontline when care is needed. Understanding the matches and gaps between policy assumptions and older people's expectations for social integration, including the role of family caregiving, can open new possibilities to prevent social isolation and promote different forms of social support that are valued by older adults for their emotional and practical benefit.
The increasing inclusion of social anthropologists in the public and private spheres has resulted... more The increasing inclusion of social anthropologists in the public and private spheres has resulted in a tension between academia and labor market. This tension is rooted in lack of appropiate undergraduate education, thus failing to provide graduates of this discipline the skills needed for the integration into new areas of professional development. This paper is a preliminary approach to this tension, seeking to reflect on professional and applied social anthropology in Chile.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be demanding for primary caregivers; yet, there is insufficient evide... more Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be demanding for primary caregivers; yet, there is insufficient evidence describing the caregiver-reported outcomes (CROs) that matter most to caregivers. CROs refer to caregivers’ assessments of their own health status as a result of supporting a patient. The study purpose was to describe the emotions that were most impactful to caregivers of patients with CRC, and how the importance caregivers attribute to these emotions changed from diagnosis throughout treatment. Guided by qualitative Interpretive Description, we analyzed 25 caregiver and 37 CRC patient interviews, either as individuals or as caregiver-patient dyads (six interviews), using inductive coding and constant comparative techniques. We found that the emotional aspect of caring for a patient with CRC was at the heart of caregiving. Caregiver experiences that engendered emotions of consequence included: (1) facing the patient’s life-changing diagnosis and an uncertain future, (2) needing to be...
Although the literature on social capital, social support and social networks uses the concept of... more Although the literature on social capital, social support and social networks uses the concept of emotional support, studies rarely recognise nuances of the emotional relationships in late life. Using a personal communities framework, we examine the subjective meaning of family and friendship ties that form the network of emotionally close relationships of a cohort of Chilean people between 60 and 74 years of age. Chile is an interesting case to investigate personal communities, as the country is facing both a rapid process of population ageing and the consequences of abrupt socio-cultural changes triggered by a military government. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews using personal communities diagrams that enabled study participants to reflect on what and how different types of personal ties were important to them. Data analysis included thematic analysis of interview transcripts and classification of identified personal communities using Pahl and Spencer's typ...
Incompatibilidades estructurales y paradojas en el sistema educacional chileno. La contradictoria... more Incompatibilidades estructurales y paradojas en el sistema educacional chileno. La contradictoria inclusión de la educación de párvuos.
El Gobierno ha definido como uno de sus ejes estratégicos la promoción de políticas públicas inno... more El Gobierno ha definido como uno de sus ejes estratégicos la promoción de políticas públicas innovadoras tendientes a crear mejores y más efectivas condiciones de protección y desarrollo para las niñas y niños de los sectores más carenciados de la sociedad ...
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis’ approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60–74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
ABSTRACT Chile is experiencing an accelerated process of population aging. People aged 60 and old... more ABSTRACT Chile is experiencing an accelerated process of population aging. People aged 60 and older currently constitute 13% of the population. This proportion is projected to reach 28% in 2050. In this context, questions have raised about the quantity and quality of older people’s social capital due to the decrease in family size and changes at the value level related to more individualized societies. The theory of individualization proposed by Beck and Beck-Gernsheim states that in today’s society people are less bounded by traditional forms of representation and control. At the level of personal ties, this means that family members would relate to and help one another because they ‘want’ and not because they ‘must’ do so. However, the latter does not necessarily implies negative consequences on older people’s social capital, but rather it may produce a change of scenario. That personal ties can be developed based on voluntariness also means that older people can invest in relationships outside their nuclear family. From this stance, the practical and emotional help required by older people could be also sought in friendship relations and weak ties. Drawing on in-depth interviews with people between 60 and 75 years old living in the city of Santiago and secondary analysis of focus groups I aim to investigate whether the nuclear family is still the predominant source of social capital or, instead, older people are replacing and/or complementing family resources with other types of ties (e.g. friend, neighbors and/or state).
Dirección estable: http://www.aacademica.com/vi.congreso.chileno.de.antropologia/82 Acta Académic... more Dirección estable: http://www.aacademica.com/vi.congreso.chileno.de.antropologia/82 Acta Académica es un proyecto académico sin fines de lucro enmarcado en la iniciativa de acceso abierto. Acta Académica fue creado para facilitar a investigadores de todo el mundo el compartir su producción académica. Para crear un perfil gratuitamente o acceder a otros trabajos visite:
evaluations of the quality of life in semi-able older men and women. This is a qualitative resear... more evaluations of the quality of life in semi-able older men and women. This is a qualitative research that includes indepth interviews to semi-able seniors over 60 years old in the Metropolitan Region. The analysis was executed with the assistance of Atlas ti 5.0 software. The results show that the dimensions that affected the perceived quality of life of semi-able older people were economy, family and health; gender differences were observed in their hierarchy and manifestation. The analysis suggests that the quality of life dimensions are not absolute. Thus, we propose an interpretative diagram that understands the dimensions as conditions and environments, and incorporates the experiences as well as individual understanding and social meanings, assuming that the quality of life is neither positive nor negative, good nor bad. Instead, its perception will depend on the condition from which is evaluated and
Quality of life (QOL) of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should b... more Quality of life (QOL) of older people is becoming an important public health concern and should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate socioeconomic and individual determinants of QOL of older subjects living in metropolitan Santiago, Chile. We first carried out a qualitative phase with focus groups of older people. According to the conclusions of the focus groups, a questionnaire about QOL was devised and added to the WhoQoL (World Health Organization Quality of Life) and WHOQoL-Old brief questionnarires. The final document with 85 questions was applied to healthy older subjects living in the community. A total of 1,676 subjects aged 71.8±7.4 years (1,189 women) took part in the survey. A multiple stepwise regression model showed that a higher socioeconomic level, a better educational level, performing voluntary work, having a partner, participating in groups with other older people, and being younger were factors independently associated with a higher QOL. A principal components analysis showed that psychological health and social relationships were the main domains that explained the total quality of life score. Psychological health and social relationships were the main determinants of QOL in this sample of older Chilean people living in metropolitan Santiago
The research, which results are presented here, is related to a subjective perspective of the qua... more The research, which results are presented here, is related to a subjective perspective of the quality of life of older people living in Santiago of Chile, ie the point of view of older people was studied. The research raises the hypothesis that other factors on older adults’ quality of life are as important as biomedical, such as: autonomy degrees, interactions and social networks, economic conditions, housing and urban environment, recreational and leisure activities, relationship with caregivers, ability to make decisions at this stage of life, and even biographical dimension would influence in the perception of their quality of life. These factors refer to particular socio-cultural aspects not only of an age group, but also of a culture. The development of the study has considered working with two production techniques of qualitative data: focus groups and in-depth interviews. This presentation will describe the results obtained through the implementation of this qualitative rese...
The following paper is the result of a survey conducted during the year 2006, which took place du... more The following paper is the result of a survey conducted during the year 2006, which took place during the month of april, where three newspapers of wide circulation in our country -Las Ultimas Noticias, La Cuarta y El Mercuriowas analyzed with the purpose of describing the images and stereotypes about aging in Chile and analyze the social imaginary, both current as possible on this subject.
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis' approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60-74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
This study uses an interpretive narrative approach to compare and contrast assumptions regarding ... more This study uses an interpretive narrative approach to compare and contrast assumptions regarding social integration (participation in meaningful and multiple roles, and engagement in social networks) as promoted in the Chilean Comprehensive Policy for Positive Aging, with the expectations of interviewees aged 60 to 74 years. The Policy assumes specific forms of social integration by: offering different options of social integration to dependent vs. independent older people, encouraging autonomy and self-management, and assuming the primacy of family responsibility in older people's care. Both the Policy and the interviewees emphasize the value of autonomy and independence in old age; the latter, however, do not place family at the frontline when care is needed. Understanding the matches and gaps between policy assumptions and older people's expectations for social integration, including the role of family caregiving, can open new possibilities to prevent social isolation and promote different forms of social support that are valued by older adults for their emotional and practical benefit.
The increasing inclusion of social anthropologists in the public and private spheres has resulted... more The increasing inclusion of social anthropologists in the public and private spheres has resulted in a tension between academia and labor market. This tension is rooted in lack of appropiate undergraduate education, thus failing to provide graduates of this discipline the skills needed for the integration into new areas of professional development. This paper is a preliminary approach to this tension, seeking to reflect on professional and applied social anthropology in Chile.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be demanding for primary caregivers; yet, there is insufficient evide... more Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be demanding for primary caregivers; yet, there is insufficient evidence describing the caregiver-reported outcomes (CROs) that matter most to caregivers. CROs refer to caregivers’ assessments of their own health status as a result of supporting a patient. The study purpose was to describe the emotions that were most impactful to caregivers of patients with CRC, and how the importance caregivers attribute to these emotions changed from diagnosis throughout treatment. Guided by qualitative Interpretive Description, we analyzed 25 caregiver and 37 CRC patient interviews, either as individuals or as caregiver-patient dyads (six interviews), using inductive coding and constant comparative techniques. We found that the emotional aspect of caring for a patient with CRC was at the heart of caregiving. Caregiver experiences that engendered emotions of consequence included: (1) facing the patient’s life-changing diagnosis and an uncertain future, (2) needing to be...
Although the literature on social capital, social support and social networks uses the concept of... more Although the literature on social capital, social support and social networks uses the concept of emotional support, studies rarely recognise nuances of the emotional relationships in late life. Using a personal communities framework, we examine the subjective meaning of family and friendship ties that form the network of emotionally close relationships of a cohort of Chilean people between 60 and 74 years of age. Chile is an interesting case to investigate personal communities, as the country is facing both a rapid process of population ageing and the consequences of abrupt socio-cultural changes triggered by a military government. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews using personal communities diagrams that enabled study participants to reflect on what and how different types of personal ties were important to them. Data analysis included thematic analysis of interview transcripts and classification of identified personal communities using Pahl and Spencer's typ...
Incompatibilidades estructurales y paradojas en el sistema educacional chileno. La contradictoria... more Incompatibilidades estructurales y paradojas en el sistema educacional chileno. La contradictoria inclusión de la educación de párvuos.
El Gobierno ha definido como uno de sus ejes estratégicos la promoción de políticas públicas inno... more El Gobierno ha definido como uno de sus ejes estratégicos la promoción de políticas públicas innovadoras tendientes a crear mejores y más efectivas condiciones de protección y desarrollo para las niñas y niños de los sectores más carenciados de la sociedad ...
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis’ approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60–74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
ABSTRACT Chile is experiencing an accelerated process of population aging. People aged 60 and old... more ABSTRACT Chile is experiencing an accelerated process of population aging. People aged 60 and older currently constitute 13% of the population. This proportion is projected to reach 28% in 2050. In this context, questions have raised about the quantity and quality of older people’s social capital due to the decrease in family size and changes at the value level related to more individualized societies. The theory of individualization proposed by Beck and Beck-Gernsheim states that in today’s society people are less bounded by traditional forms of representation and control. At the level of personal ties, this means that family members would relate to and help one another because they ‘want’ and not because they ‘must’ do so. However, the latter does not necessarily implies negative consequences on older people’s social capital, but rather it may produce a change of scenario. That personal ties can be developed based on voluntariness also means that older people can invest in relationships outside their nuclear family. From this stance, the practical and emotional help required by older people could be also sought in friendship relations and weak ties. Drawing on in-depth interviews with people between 60 and 75 years old living in the city of Santiago and secondary analysis of focus groups I aim to investigate whether the nuclear family is still the predominant source of social capital or, instead, older people are replacing and/or complementing family resources with other types of ties (e.g. friend, neighbors and/or state).
Dirección estable: http://www.aacademica.com/vi.congreso.chileno.de.antropologia/82 Acta Académic... more Dirección estable: http://www.aacademica.com/vi.congreso.chileno.de.antropologia/82 Acta Académica es un proyecto académico sin fines de lucro enmarcado en la iniciativa de acceso abierto. Acta Académica fue creado para facilitar a investigadores de todo el mundo el compartir su producción académica. Para crear un perfil gratuitamente o acceder a otros trabajos visite:
Actas del VI Congreso Chileno de Antropología , 2007
La ponencia que aquí se presenta corresponde a una investigación realizada durante el año 2006, d... more La ponencia que aquí se presenta corresponde a una investigación realizada durante el año 2006, donde se analizó durante el mes de abril tres diarios de amplia difusión en nuestro país -Las Últimas Noticias, La Cuarta y El Mercurio- con la finalidad de describir las imáge- nes y estereotipos sobre la vejez y el envejecimiento presentes en Chile y analizar el imaginario social, tanto actual como posible, en torno a esta temática1.
From a subjective perspective, the concept ‘quality of life’ is the evaluation that individuals m... more From a subjective perspective, the concept ‘quality of life’ is the evaluation that individuals make of their living conditions. Because individuals place themselves in relation to the opportunities and constraints in their societal and cultural environment, a subjective perspective of quality of life invites us to reflect on the ability of individuals to exercise agency over conditions imposed by a broader context. This is a qualitative research that includes in-depth interviews to semi-dependent seniors and focus groups to independents elderly people of 60 years and older living in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. The analysis was based on a grounded theory approach assisted by Atlas ti 5.0. Applying a constructivist approach, we have developed a diagram that gives dynamism to the dimensions of quality of life identified by the participants. We can observe how the dimensions interact to distinguish those that correspond to the social environment (e.g. intimacy and social inclusion)...
Introduction: During the year 2008 the qualitative phase of the research “Calidad de vida y Adult... more Introduction: During the year 2008 the qualitative phase of the research “Calidad de vida y Adulto Mayor” was realized in Santiago, Chile. The target was to characterize the factors that have an influence over the quality of life of the older people, considering their own perceptions. The findings show the implications of the social environment on the given definitions of quality of life, including the role of the older people and the possibilities of inclusion that are socially given in Chile. Methods: A qualitative methodology was used, including 16 focus groups with free living older people, and 10 in-depth interviews with semi-disabled older people. The data was analyzed with the qualitative software Atlas ti 5.1. Results:According with the participants, there are 3 areas where the social environment is linked to the quality of life, wich ones are also linked with other dimensions already empirically and theoretically defined as relevant, like health and economy. a) Intergenerat...
Introduction: The perception of factors influencing the quality of life in elderly people in Chil... more Introduction: The perception of factors influencing the quality of life in elderly people in Chile has not been sufficiently analyzed. The aim of this study was to identify key domains of health affecting the quality of life in this group. Material and Methods: A study with focus group was made in older than 60 year old, from different socioeconomic status living in Santiago, Chile. Participants of 16 groups were asked “factors that influence the quality of life”; areas related to health are described. The analysis was conducted with support of the Atlas ti 5.1. Results: With regard to health dimension, four major areas were perceived like factors affecting the quality of life: a) Acquisition of physical or mental illness affecting mobility, daily activities or the recognition of their surroundings and loved ones. The participants describe fear of progression of diseases associated with aging, also were identified process of adaptation to their present health situation. b) Medical C...
Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia, 2017
The rapid process of population aging and the effect of an induced process of modernization since... more The rapid process of population aging and the effect of an induced process of modernization since the early 1980’s in Chile have prompted questions about the quantity and quality of older people’s formal and informal networks of support. Socio-cultural changes reflecting values of an individualized society put into question the mandatory character of traditional family support. Using a conceptual framework that combines a focus on bonding and bridging social capital, on personal communities and that employs a narrative approach to policy analysis, this thesis investigates to what extent and under which circumstances older people living inan urban area exchange help and complement family resources with other types of personal ties (e.g. friends, neighbours, and/or state organizations). Paying particular attention to the composition, function and meaning of personal ties in later life, I draw on 40 in-depth interviews with people between 60 and 74 years old living in the city of Santiago and analyze the Chilean “Integral Policy for Positive Aging 2012-2025” to answer this research question. The findings show how older people become integrated in society through the management of a network of diverse personal ties. They highlight the nuances in the meaning and function of these ties in a context of low institutional trust and neoliberal social policies. The research contributes to existing literature by: a) clearly differentiating bonding from strong ties, and bridging from weak ties, while stressing the role of bonding ties acting as bridging social capital to connect the older person to key symbolic and practical resources in a context of low trust; b) offering a conceptual and methodological framework to recognize the normative and cultural aspects of social policies on aging; c) explicitly considering the role of the socio-cultural context of a country of the global south in the creation of personal communities.
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Papers by Maria Jose Torrejon