Gender inequality in health among elderly people in a combined framework of socioeconomic position, family characteristics and social support

This study analyses gender inequalities in health among elderly people in Catalonia (Spain) by adopting a conceptual framework that globally considers three dimensions of health determinants : socio-economic position, family characteristics and social support. Data came from the 2006 Catalonian Health Survey. For the purposes of this study a sub-sample of people aged 65���85 years with no paid job was selected (1,113 men and 1,484 women). The health outcomes analysed were self-perceived health status, poor mental health status and long-standing limiting illness. Multiple logistic regression models separated by sex were fitted and a hierarchical model was fitted in three steps. Health status among elderly women was poorer than among the men for the three outcomes analysed. Whereas living with disabled people was positively related to the three health outcomes and confidant social support was negatively associated with all of them in both sexes, there were gender differences in other social determinants of health. Our results emphasise the importance of using an integrated approach for the analysis of health inequalities among elderly people, simultaneously considering socio-economic position, family characteristics and social support, as well as different health indicators, in order fully to understand the social determinants of the health status of older men and women.

L'��rea B��sica de Serveis Socials de Pineda de Mar : Intervenci�� des del Suport Social.

Aquesta mem��ria mostra la intervenci�� social des del suport social. Se n'han constatat els efectes en la participaci�� en un grup d'autoajuda i s'ha volgut generar en el projecte de creaci�� d'un grup de suport a dones v��ctimes de la viol��ncia de g��nere.

Avaluaci�� de necessitats i disseny de la intervenci�� per a la reintegraci�� social dels delinq��ents sexuals d���alt risc

Aquest treball recull les necessitats per la reintegraci�� que presenten els delinq��ents sexuals a les presons catalanes i com es poden abordar aquestes mitjan��ant un model que ha donat bons resultats a altres pa��sos: Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA a partir d'ara). L'objectiu ��s con��ixer com funcionen els Cercles de Suport i Responsabilitat i quins s��n els requisits necessaris per adaptar aquest model als serveis penitenciaris de Catalunya. Amb aquesta finalitat s'ha fet una an��lisi quantitativa dels principals trets de la poblaci�� penitenci��ria catalana, s'ha revisat la bibliografia sobre el model CoSA i s'ha fet observaci�� de camp en la seva aplicaci�� al Regne Unit. Tamb�� s'ha comptat amb les opinions d'experts i professionals de Catalunya i s'han fet entrevistes a una petita mostra de delinq��ents sexuals en r��gim de semillibertat. Tot i que a Catalunya hi ha programes a les presons per potenciar la rehabilitaci�� dels delinq��ents sexuals, la investigaci�� destaca l���important paper del suport social i del manteniment dels canvis del tractament en el medi comunitari com elements clau per la reducci�� de la reincid��ncia. El model Cercles optimitza l'efecte d'aquests processos i alhora ofereix un model de supervisi�� que concilia l'objectiu de protecci�� p��blica amb la reintegraci�� del delinq��ent. De l'estudi de la poblaci�� penitenci��ria es conclou que hi ha una part d'interns que es podrien beneficiar d'aquest programa i que el reconeixen com una font important de suport davant les importants dificultats que troben en el proc��s de retorn a la llibertat. Es proposa un programa CerclesCat adaptat a la realitat del sistema penitenciari catal�� i es descriu el proc��s d'implementaci��.

Evaluaci��n de necesidades y dise��o de la intervenci��n para la reintegraci��n social de los delincuentes sexuales de alto riesgo

Este trabajo recoge las necesidades para la reintegraci��n que presentan los delincuentes sexuales de las prisiones catalanas y c��mo se pueden abordar ��stas mediante un modelo que ha dado buenos resultados en otros pa��ses: Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA a partir de ahora). El objetivo es conocer c��mo funcionan los C��rculos de Apoyo y Responsabilidad y cu��les son los requisitos necesarios para adaptar este modelo a los servicios penitenciarios de Catalu��a. Con este fin se ha hecho un an��lisis cuantitativo de los principales rasgos de la poblaci��n penitenciaria catalana, se ha revisado la bibliograf��a sobre el modelo CoSA y se ha hecho observaci��n de campo en su aplicaci��n en el Reino Unido. Tambi��n se ha contado con las opiniones de expertos y profesionales de Catalu��a y se han realizado entrevistas a una peque��a muestra de delincuentes sexuales en r��gimen de semilibertad. Aunque en Catalu��a hay programas en las prisiones para potenciar la rehabilitaci��n de los delincuentes sexuales, la investigaci��n destaca el importante papel del apoyo social y del mantenimiento de los cambios del tratamiento en el medio comunitario como elementos clave para la reducci��n de la reincidencia. El modelo de C��rculos optimiza el efecto de estos procesos, y muestra un modelo de supervisi��n que concilia el objetivo de protecci��n p��blica con la reintegraci��n del delincuente. Del estudio de la poblaci��n penitenciaria se concluye que hay una parte de internos que podr��an beneficiarse de este programa y que lo reconocen como una fuente importante de apoyo ante las importantes dificultades que encuentran en el proceso de retorno a la libertad. Se propone un programa CerclesCat adaptado a la realidad del sistema penitenciario catal��n y se describe el proceso de implementaci��n.

Influencia de la percepci��n de apoyo y del funcionamiento social en la calidad de vida de pacientes con esquizofrenia y sus cuidadores

Perception of social support and functioning of patients with schizophrenia and their primary caregivers and its relationship to quality of life are described. Forty-five patients and their 45 relatives, treated at the Mental Health Services in Arica, Chile, participated. Both patients and caregivers in the study have a poor perception of social support with regard to extra-family people, as well as a low social integration. However, patients showed adequate capacity to function within their immediate family. Unlike what was found in developed countries, these patients showed moderate levels of quality of life, with a strong relationship with perceptions of the social support they receive from family and significant others and the ability to establish and maintain social contacts. Quality of life of primary caregivers is linked to patients�� ability to establish and maintain social contacts within the family group, as in other social instances, such as keeping a job. The results of the study suggest the need to consider the design and application of programs of support for these patients and their caregivers, with the central aim of the social functioning of the above-mentioned patients and their familiar and community integration.

Networks of PhD Students and Academic Performance: A Comparison across Countries

In this article we compare regression models obtained to predict PhD students��� academic performance in the universities of Girona (Spain) and Slovenia. Explanatory variables are characteristics of PhD student���s research group understood as an egocentered social network, background and attitudinal characteristics of the PhD students and some characteristics of the supervisors. Academic performance was measured by the weighted number of publications. Two web questionnaires were designed, one for PhD students and one for their supervisors and other research group members. Most of the variables were easily comparable across universities due to the careful translation procedure and pre-tests. When direct comparison was notpossible we created comparable indicators. We used a regression model in which the country was introduced as a dummy coded variable including all possible interaction effects. The optimal transformations of the main and interaction variables are discussed. Some differences between Slovenian and Girona universities emerge. Some variables like supervisor���s performance and motivation for autonomy prior to starting the PhD have the same positive effect on the PhD student���s performance in both countries. On the other hand, variables like too close supervision by the supervisor and having children have a negative influence in both countries. However, we find differences between countries when we observe the motivation for research prior to starting the PhD which increases performance in Slovenia but not in Girona. As regards network variables, frequency of supervisor advice increases performance in Slovenia and decreases it in Girona. The negative effect in Girona could be explained by the fact that additional contacts of the PhD student with his/her supervisor might indicate a higher workload in addition to or instead of a better advice about the dissertation. The number of external student���s advice relationships and social support mean contact intensity are not significant in Girona, but they have a negative effect in Slovenia. We might explain the negative effect of external advice relationships in Slovenia by saying that a lot of external advice may actually result from a lack of the more relevant internal advice

Children left behind during immigration: repercussions on the mental health of Latin-American mothers and fathers

Emigrating and having to leave children behind may be a risk factor for the mental health of immigrants. This study aimed to compare the psychological symptoms reported by immigrants mothers and fathers who took their children with them with those who left their children behind. The sample comprised 213 Latin American immigrants (123 women and 90 men). The results showed that mothers who did not have children with them reported more psychological symptoms than those who did. Few differences were observed in the case of fathers, except that those who had their children with them reported more symptoms related with somatization. After controlling for possible confounding variables ('time since immigration', ��having a job', 'legal status', and social support') it is concluded that for mothers not being accompanied by own's children explains the largest proportion of the psychological synptoms analyzed, although the time since immigration also accounts for some of the variance in the case of depressive sympthomatology and general distress. It is likely that the despair and frustation felt by mothers grows as time goes on and they remain unable to reunite the family. These results may be useful in terms of designing prevention and intervention programs with immigrants mothers.

Referral from primary care to a physical activity programme: establishing long-term adherence? A randomized controlled trial. Rationale and study design

Background: Declining physical activity is associated with a rising burden of global disease. There is little evidence about effective ways to increase adherence to physical activity. Therefore, interventions are needed that produce sustained increases in adherence to physical activity and are cost-effective. The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of a primary care physical activity intervention in increasing adherence to physical activity in the general population seen in primary care. Method and design: Randomized controlled trial with systematic random sampling. A total of 424 subjects of both sexes will participate; all will be over the age of 18 with a low level of physical activity (according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), self-employed and from 9 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC). They will volunteer to participate in a physical activity programme during 3 months (24 sessions; 2 sessions a week, 60 minutes per session). Participants from each PHC will be randomly allocated to an intervention (IG) and control group (CG). The following parameters will be assessed pre and post intervention in both groups: (1) health-related quality of life (SF-12), (2) physical activity stage of change (Prochaska's stages of change), (3) level of physical activity (IPAQ-short version), (4) change in perception of health (vignettes from the Cooperative World Organization of National Colleges, Academies, and Academic Associations of Family Physicians, COOP/WONCA), (5) level of social support for the physical activity practice (Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, SSPAS), and (6) control based on analysis (HDL, LDL and glycated haemoglobin).Participants' frequency of visits to the PHC will be registered over the six months before and after the programme. There will be a follow up in a face to face interview three, six and twelve months after the programme, with the reduced version of IPAQ, SF-12, SSPAS, and Prochaska's stages. Discussion: The pilot study showed the effectiveness of an enhanced low-cost, evidence-based intervention in increased physical activity and improved social support. If successful in demonstrating long-term improvements, this randomised controlled trial will be the first sustainable physical activity intervention based in primary care in our country to demonstrate longterm adherence to physical activity. Trial Registration: A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Developed by the National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00714831.

Health of Immigrants in European countries

The health of older immigrants can have important consequences for needed social support and demands placed on health systems. This paper examines health differences between immigrants and the nativeborn populations aged 50 years and older in 11 European countries. We examine differences in functional ability, disability, disease presence and behavioral risk factors, for immigrants and non-immigrants using data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) database. Among the 11 European countries, migrants generally have worse health than the native population. In these countries, there is a little evidence of the ���healthy migrant��� at ages 50 years and over. In general, it appears that growing numbers of immigrants may portend more health problems in the population in subsequent years.

Values and their influence on the life satisfaction of adolescents aged 12 to 16: a study of some correlates

In this research we explore several aspects of quality of life in young people, working with factors such as self-esteem, locus of control, perceived social support, values, and so on. We examine the correlations among factors that influence the values and life satisfaction of adolescents aged 12-16. Furthermore, we analyze the data obtained from the children, on the one hand, and their parents, on the other, we explore the relationships between the factors and we consider the agreements and discrepancies between the responses of parents and their offspring