Programa educativo para mejorar el manejo del estrés en los adultos mayores parroquia Valparaíso. Cantón Guano-Chimborazo 2022

Abstract

This research was carried out in the Valparaíso parish located in Guano canton, whose aim was to develop an educational program to change how older adults cope with stress from maladaptive or evasive styles to direct copying. A total of 38 older adults participated in the research. A 42 items questionnaire was applied to the population to gather demographic data and how older adults cope with stress. The coping strategies questionnaire obtained the cognitive and behavioral way data on which older adults react to stressful situations. The results showed that older adults do not prioritize using any coping stress strategies, which evidences a problem since maladaptive coping is recommended to be nonexistent. On the contrary, mainly direct copying and occasionally avoidant coping are used. An educational program was implemented in the parish hall. The program allowed older adults to learn what stress is in the face of a stressful situation and the solutions older adults must consider to take to copy the situation directly. It was concluded then that it is necessary to work extensively on the proper management of stress, prioritizing play activities that are more attractive to older adults. Therefore, it is recommended to continue this work and extend it to other age groups.