Abstract Objective: To study the community dimension and the formation of group identities from sustainable food initiatives (agro ecological consumption groups, producer / consumer cooperatives); as well as reflect on their capacity to transform the social environment. Methodology: Fieldwork was carried out with twenty-one groups, networks and associations located in five Spanish cities, following a multi-technical qualitative approach. Results: From the discursive analysis of the participants, it was possible to know the main elements that act in the conformation of these groups; and the components of social order that agglutinate or divide the existing social networks. Limitations: The study is limited to those individuals who play active roles in the associations (founding partners, members of the general organization), due to their greater interest in participating and making their actions known. Conclusions: Apart from the health benefits derived from agro ecological food consumption, these groups promote the consolidation of an explicit collective identity, around alternative socio-cultural and political values. This new community structuring is linked to the expression of a life philosophy different from the current capitalist logic, orienting itself towards the common good, transforming action and responsible consumption.

Resumen Objetivo: Estudiar la dimensión comunitaria y la formación de identidades grupales a partir de las iniciativas alimentarias sostenibles (grupos de consumo agroecológico, cooperativas de productores/consumidores); así como reflexionar sobre su capacidad de transformación del entorno social. Metodología: Se realizó trabajo de campo con veintiún grupos, redes y asociaciones localizadas en cinco ciudades españolas, siguiendo un enfoque cualitativo multitécnico. Resultados: A partir del análisis discursivo de los participantes se pudieron conocer los principales elementos que actúan en la conformación de estos grupos; y los componentes de orden social que aglutinan o dividen el entramado vincular allí existente. Limitaciones: El estudio se limita a aquellos individuos que cumplen roles activos en las asociaciones (socios fundadores, miembros de la organización general), por su mayor interés en participar y dar a conocer sus acciones. Conclusiones: Aparte de los beneficios a nivel salud derivados del consumo alimentario agroecológico, estos grupos promueven la consolidación de una identidad colectiva explícita, en torno a valores socioculturales y políticos alternativos. Esta nueva estructuración comunitaria se vincula con la expresión de una filosofía de vida distinta de la lógica capitalista actual, orientándose hacia el bien común, la acción transformadora y el consumo responsable.

Abstract The following article explores the different health care strategies deployed in the context of Latin American immigration in Spain. Based on an ethnographic approach, the discourses of the actors involved are exposed and analyzed in order to reconstruct the main characteristics of their therapeutic itineraries and the factors involved in their conformation. In this scenario —characterized by medical pluralism—, self-care and - healing represents a preferential option, which not only facilitates the resolution of problems but also stands as a form of resistance, identity revaluation, negotiation and adaptation to their new social space.

Resumen El siguiente artículo explora las distintas estrategias de atención de la enfermedad desplegadas en el contexto de la inmigración latinoamericana en España. A partir de una aproximación etnográfica, se exponen y analizan los discursos de los propios actores para reconstruir las principales características de sus trayectorias terapéuticas y los factores intervinientes en su conformación. En este escenario –caracterizado por el pluralismo médico–, las acciones de autoatención y cuidado representan una vía preferencial, que no solo facilita la resolución de problemas, sino que se erige como forma de resistencia, revalorización identitaria, negociación y adaptación al nuevo espacio social.

ABSTRACT Background Cultural and social factors play an important role in the development and persistence of Low Back Pain (LBP). Nevertheless, there are few studies investigating differences in LBP features between countries. Objective To determine differences in pain perception between individuals with LBP living in Brazil and Spain. Method Thirty Spanish individuals and 30 age- and sex-comparable Brazilian individuals with LBP were recruited from the Public Health Services of both countries. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the pain rating index (PRI), the number of words chosen (NWC), and the present pain index (PPI) extracted from the McGill Pain Questionnaire were used to assess pain. The Oswestry Disability Index, the Short Form-36, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were also applied. Differences between countries and the correlation between demographic and clinical variables in each country were assessed with parametric and the nonparametric tests. Results A significant Country by Gender interaction was found for the PRI total score (P=0.038), but not for intensity of pain, disability, PPI, or NWC, in which Spanish women exhibited greater pain ratio than Spanish men (P=0.014), and no gender differences were identified in Brazilians. The Spanish group showed a consistent pattern of correlations for clinical data. Within Brazilian patients, fewer correlations were found and all of the coefficients were lower than those in the Spanish group. Conclusion The pain perception in patients with LBP is different depending on the country. Within Spanish patients, LBP is considered a more global entity affecting multidimensional contexts.

In this study the social representation of child abuse is analyzed from a psychosocial perspective. Abuse is considered from the child welfare model. The main objectives are (1) to analyze social representation of abuse according to gender, age, parenthood and personal experience and (2) to identify false beliefs and myths that predict the perception of severity and frequency of abuse. The sample consisted of 261 subjects, both men and women aged between 18 and 89. Participants were randomly selected and individually interviewed. The results show that gender affects the concept of child abuse -men and women think differently about severity and frequency of abuse. Age determines the representation of the severity of abuse, so that young people take the abuse behavior more severely. The experience of abuse affects the severity of perceived mistreatment -those who think they have been mistreated take it less severely. Severity and frequency of abuse behaviors are grouped by the participants based not on the nature of abuse but on the quality and severity of the behavior.

En este estudio se analiza la representación social de los malos tratos infantiles desde una perspectiva psicosocial y entendiendo el maltrato desde el modelo del bienestar del menor. Los objetivos son: analizar las representaciones sociales en función del género, la edad, la paternidad/maternidad y la experiencia personal en relación con el maltrato y determinar las falsas creencias y mitos que predicen la percepción de la gravedad y la frecuencia del maltrato. La muestra está formada por 261 sujetos, mujeres y hombres con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 89 años. Los participantes fueron elegidos al azar y entrevistados individualmente. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el género condiciona el concepto de maltrato infantil haciendo que hombres y mujeres piensen de forma diferente respecto a su gravedad y frecuencia. La edad determina la representación de la gravedad del maltrato de forma que los jóvenes atribuyen mayor severidad a las conductas. La experiencia de maltrato afecta a la gravedad del maltrato percibido, declarando menor severidad los que piensan que han sido maltratados. La gravedad y la frecuencia de las conductas analizadas no son agrupadas por los participantes atendiendo a la naturaleza del maltrato sino a la cualidad de la conducta y a su severidad.