Palabras clave
loneliness
living alone
old age
estrategias de afrontamiento
soledad
hogares unipersonales
vejez
Cómo citar
Resumen
El objetivo es analizar las estrategias de afrontamiento ante la soledad entre personas adultas mayores quienes viven en soledad. Los datos provienen de un estudio cualitativo con 44 participantes adultas mayores en Uruguay, quienes participaron tanto en entrevistas individuales como en grupos focales y se realizó análisis de contenido. Las personas participantes utilizaban dos tipos de estrategias para afrontar la ausencia de relaciones interpersonales en la casa. Uno, centrado en las emociones consistente en realizar actividades fuera de casa, lo que permitía controlar las emociones negativas derivadas del sentimiento de soledad. Y la otra, centrada en el problema, a través de la búsqueda de nuevas relaciones sociales al exterior de la casa, particularmente de pareja bajo el arreglo de “juntos pero separados”, así como, relaciones de amistad. Se puede concluir que las personas adultas mayores utilizan recursos cognitivos, emocionales y relacionales para construir un proceso de afrontamiento ubicado fuera del espacio de la casa cuando se vive en soledad. Las estrategias de afrontamiento aquí reportadas visibilizan nuevos contextos de relacionamiento durante la vejez.
Citas
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