Abstract Background Research is crucial to the development of society. The literature on the challenges for scientific development highlights that chronic stress in researchers can affect their academic production and their physical and mental health. Although some literature reports the consequences of stress in the academic field, most studies are carried out on students, and there is very little knowledge on the characteristics of stress because of simultaneous academic, occupational, and socio-personal demands. Objective To analyze and contrast the methodological components and main results of stress-related studies on researchers. Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide was used to analyze current evidence in the literature. Full-text scientific papers from the period 2008-2019 were included in both English and Spanish, on subjects engaged in research and teaching. The databases used were Scopus, Ebsco, Dialnet, and Web of Science. Results One hundred and eighty records were obtained, but only four met the criteria for the qualitative evaluation. Discussion and conclusion Stress is present in the 20% of subjects associated with psychological (lack of control, emotional fatigue, overload, multi-tasking) and institutional variables (evaluation system demands, tenure track, lack of scientific recognition). The studies emphasize aspects that predispose and precipitate stress but do not highlight psychological aspects of the stressful experience.

Resumen Antecedentes La investigación es clave para el avance de la sociedad. Entre los desafíos que la literatura apunta para el desarrollo científico, se encuentra el estrés en investigadores, que experimentado de manera crónica puede mermar la producción académica y la salud física y mental de éstos. Aunque existe literatura que aborda las consecuencias del estrés en el contexto académico, la mayoría de los estudios se realizan en estudiantes. Aún es escaso el conocimiento sobre las características del estrés como resultante de demandas simultáneas de tipo académico, laboral y socio-personal. Objetivo Identificar y contrastar los componentes metodológicos y los hallazgos principales de estudios relativos al estrés en investigadores. Método Se utilizó la guía Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses para analizar la evidencia actual de literatura. Se incluyeron artículos científicos a texto completo del periodo 2008-2019, en inglés o español, con participantes dedicados a la investigación y/o docencia. Se buscó en Scopus, Ebsco, Dialnet, Web of Science y Pubmed. Resultados Se obtuvieron 180 registros, pero sólo cuatro cumplieron los criterios de evaluación en síntesis cualitativa. Discusión y conclusión El estrés se presenta en ≈20% de los participantes, asociado a variables psicológicas (falta de control, agotamiento emocional, percepción de sobrecarga, multiplicidad de roles) e institucionales (demandas de diferentes sistemas de evaluación, inestabilidad laboral, poco reconocimiento de la actividad científica). Los estudios enfatizan aspectos que predisponen y precipitan el estrés, pero no destacan aspectos psicológicos individuales de la experiencia estresante.

Objective: to explore the perception of social support as a mediator of the influence from a problematic family context on the well-being of family caregivers of functionally dependent older adults. Method: a non-probabilistic sample of 464 family caregivers participated by answering a psychometric instrument that was previously validated for the population of reference. Results: a series of confirmatory factor analyses indicated the fit of observed variables to represent the constructs of subjective well-being, perception of social support and problematic family context. The case of caregivers who live with the dependent older adult, where the influence of the stressing family context on the caregiver's well-being is mediated by the caregiver's perception of social support was identified as the model with better fit after the review of four different models. Conclusions: this paper agrees with the buffer effect of social support documented in scientific literature, it also provides data to enrich the knowledge about the family and social circumstances associated to the Mexican family caregivers.

Objetivo: explorar el papel mediador de la percepción de apoyo social en la influencia que ejerce un contexto familiar problemático sobre el bienestar subjetivo de cuidadores familiares de adultos mayores dependientes funcionales. Método: participó una muestra no probabilística de 464 cuidadores familiares, respondiendo instrumentos psicométricos previamente validados para la población de referencia. Resultados: Análisis Factoriales Confirmatorios indicaron la adecuación de las variables observadas para representar a los constructos bienestar subjetivo, percepción de apoyo social y contexto familiar problemático. Examinando cuatro modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, se identificó un mejor ajuste en el caso de cuidadores que viven con el mayor dependiente funcional, en donde la influencia del contexto familiar estresor sobre el bienestar está mediada por la percepción de apoyo social. Conclusiones: se coincide con la literatura que documenta el efecto buffer del apoyo social, así como también se aportan datos que enriquecen el conocimiento sobre circunstancias familiares y sociales asociadas al bienestar de cuidadores familiares mexicanos.

Mediante análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios, se validó la Escala de Apoyo Social para Cuidadores Familiares de Adultos Mayores. 23 ítems con cargas factoriales > 0.51, agrupados en cuatro factores explican 63% de la varianza del constructo, con valores de Alfa de Cronbach ≥ 0.85; se demostró que el apoyo social tiene una relación causal positiva y significativa con apoyo material (β = 0.66), apoyo práctico (β = 0.69), apoyo emocional (β = 0.6) y apoyo de orientación (β = 0.81); los valores de ajuste del modelo son ≥ 0.97. La escala validada puede ser aplicada junto con otras medidas que permitan valorar las necesidades que enfrentan las familias para generar acciones de apoyo dirigidas al adulto-mayor y a quien lo cuida.

Using exploratory and confirmatory analysis factor, was validated the Social Support Scale for Family Caregivers of Older Adults. 23 items with factor loadings ≥ 0.51, grouped into four factors it explain 63% of the variance of the construct, with Cronbach's alpha values ≥ 0.85; was shown that social support has a positive and significant causal relationship with material support (β = 0.66), practical support (β = 0.69), emotional support (β = 0.6), and counseling support (β = 0.81), the model fit values was ≥ 0.97. The validated scale can be applied together with other measures to assess needs faced by families to generate support actions aimed at adult-senior and caregiver.

Well-being is a concept that has aroused multidisciplinary interest. Particularly in studies about family caregivers of older adults there has been the need to analyze this attribute facing the imminent increase of family caregivers. The goal of this paper is to describe the design process, the exploratory and confirmatory validation, as well as the usefulness of the current Scale of Subjective Well-Being of Family Caregivers for Older Adults - EBEMS/ CFAM. Results are shown in a sequence, from qualitative analysis, to factor analysis, Rasch modeling and structural equations in four samples of study that, taken together, confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

El bienestar es un concepto que ha despertado un interés multidisciplinar y particularmente en la línea de estudios sobre cuidadores familiares de adultos mayores se ha registrado la necesidad de analizar dicho atributo ante el inminente aumento de familias cuidadoras. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir el proceso de diseño, validación exploratoria y confirmatoria, así como la utilidad actual de la Escala de Bienestar Subjetivo para Cuidadores Familiares de Adultos Mayores - EBEMS/CFAM. Se presenta una secuencia de resultados de análisis cualitativos, análisis factoriales, de modelamiento Rasch y ecuaciones estructurales en cuatro muestras de estudio que, en conjunto, confirman la validez y confiabilidad de la escala.

Conforme aumenta a quantidade de idosos, incrementa o número de pessoas que assumem o cuidado de um familiar idoso dependente funcional. As tarefas do cuidado demandam recursos econômicos, tempo, organização familiar e pessoal que geram uma sobrecarga que pode repercutir negativamente no cuidador. Um recurso que pode amenizar esses impactos é a existência de redes de apoio social, dentro das quais os familiares encontrem ajuda para satisfazer suas necessidades em situações cotidianas e de crise. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar as necessidades de apoio social experimentadas por cuidadores de familiares idosos com problemas de saúde. Análises de conteúdo revelaram as seguintes categorias temáticas: Necessidades emocionais pessoais e interpessoais, Necessidades de apoio econômico, Necessidades de apoio prático-instrumental, Necessidades de orientação e Percepção de recursos para responder às demandas do cuidado. Os resultados são discutidos à luz de outros estudos qualitativos sobre necessidades de cuidadores de idosos.

With the increase of elders, increases the number of family members that take care of functional dependent elders. the duties of caregivers demand economic resources, time, personal and familiar organization that generate a burden that can negatively impact the caregiver. One resource that can withhold this impact is the social support network, where the family members can find help to satisfy their daily needs and crises. The objective of this study was to identify social support needs experienced by family caregivers of functional dependent elders. the content analysis revealed the following thematic categories: Emotional personal and interpersonal support needs, Economic support needs, Practical-instrumental support needs, Orientation support needs and Perception of resources to respond to the caregiver's activities demands. the results were discussed compared to other qualitative studies about the needs of caregivers of elders.

The objective of this work is to analyze predictive relationships between the locus of control, self-concept and the orientation toward achievement in 123 seniors’ residents from João Pessoa, Paraiba Brazil. Their ages are between 60 and 93 years olds, the half of them was masculine sex and the other half was feminine sex. The used instruments were: locus of control, self-concept and orientation toward achievement scale, plus a social-demographic questionnaire. Analysis of regression were used, fi nding diverse predictive relations between personality aspects, confi rming the explanatory power of the variables locus of internal and external, autoconcepto positive and negative control and avoidance to failure.

El objetivo fue analizar las relaciones predictivas entre el autoconcepto, locus de control, orientación al éxito y evitación al fracaso en una muestra de adultos mayores de João Pessoa, Brasil. Participaron en este estudio 123 personas adultos mayores con edades entre 60 y 93 años, de las cuales, la mitad era del sexo masculino y la otra mitad de sexo femenino. Se utilizaron escalas de locus de control, autoconcepto y orientación al éxito validadas en población pessoense, así como un cuestionario sociodemográfi co diseñado exprofesso. Se utilizaron análisis de regresión jerárquica, encontrando diversas relaciones predictivas entre aspectos de personalidad, confi rmando el poder explicativo de las variables locus de control interno y externo, autoconcepto positivo y negativo y evitación al fracaso.

L’objetif de cet article est d’analiser les relations predictives entre locus de contrôle, autoconcept et orientation dirigées la réussite de 123 agés entre 60 et 93 ans, moitié du sexe féminin et moitié du sexe masculin. Les instruments apliqués sont les suivantes: locus de contrôle, autoconcept et orientation dirigé au réussite validés dans la population qui habite la ville de João Pessoa, et aussi un questionnaire socialdemographique. Ce travail a eté soumis à une analyse de regression hierarchique, dont les résultats ont montré des rélations predictives divers entre les aspects de la personnalité, en entérinant le pouvoir explicatif des variables de locus de contrôle interne et externe, autoconcept positif et negatif et évitement de l´échec.

Foram analisadas as relações das estratégias de enfrentamento, apoio social e variáveis sócio-demográficas com o bem-estar subjetivo de uma amostra de idosos. O bem-estar foi definido pela satisfação com a vida, os afetos positivos e afetos negativos. Participaram 123 idosos (média = 67,1; desvio padrão = 6,1), residentes em João Pessoa, Brasil. Análises de regressão hierárquica revelaram que (a) a satisfação com a vida é maior em mulheres, nas pessoas que recebem pensão, as pessoas que estão satisfeitas com o apoio recebido, as pessoas que dão apoio aos outros e nas pessoas que enfrentam os problemas de forma direta e uma re-avaliação positiva; (b) os afetos positivos aumentam com a satisfação do apoio recebido e com o enfrentamento direto e re-avaliativo e a diminuição do enfrentamento de esquiva e (c) os afetos negativos diminuem ao dar apoio e aumentam com o enfrentamento de esquiva. Os resultados mostram as diferenças dos componentes cognitivo e afetivo do bem-estar e apontam a necessidade de investigar a autonomia funcional do idoso.

Subjective well-being was studied in a sample of the elderly by analyzing the relationship among coping strategies, social support, and social-demographic variables. Well-being was defined by life satisfaction and positive and negative affect. There were 123 elderly participants (mean=67.1; standard deviation=6.1) who were residents in João Pessoa, Brazil. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that (a) life satisfaction is higher in: women, people who receive pensions, people who are satisfied with the support they receive, people who give support to others, and people who cope with problems directly and by re-appraising the situation in a positive way; (b) positive affect increases with the satisfaction of the support received, with direct and re-appraisal coping, and with the decrease of coping by avoidance, and (c) negative affect decreases with giving support and increases with coping by avoidance. The results show the differences of the cognitive and affective components of well-being and identify the need to investigate the functional autonomy of the elderly.