Artículos científicos

URI permanente para esta colecciónhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/14712

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Mostrando 1 - 5 de 5

Barriers to and Suggestions for a Healthful, Active Lifestyle as Perceived by Rural and Urban Costa Rican Adolescents
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2009) Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Garita Arce, Carlos; Sánchez López, Marta; Colón Ramos, Uriyoán
An inactive lifestyle is considered one of the leading causes of obesity and other chronic diseases.1 An active lifestyle, in contrast, is a broad concept that incorporates exercise, recreational activities, household and occupational activities, and active transportation.2 Although establishing an active lifestyle early in life may promote improved health and quality of life in adulthood,3 several studies have shown that physical activity starts declining early in the adolescent years4,5 and continues to decline throughout the life span.6,7 This study aims to expand knowledge of what barriers and motivators may contribute to this decline in physical activity, particularly in the adolescent years. There is a critical need for understanding the factors related to the adoption of a healthful, active lifestyle in the adolescent population. This issue has remarkable importance in Latin America, where the adolescent population (10-19 years of age) represents a significant proportion of the general population (on average 21%), and where very little is known about barriers and motivators to an active lifestyle. Specifically, in Costa Rica more than 50% of adolescents have been found to be at risk of inactive lifestyles, as defined by low cardiovascular fitness.8 The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and chronic diseases in many Latin American countries represents an unprecedented public health challenge that must be addressed from the prevention standpoint.9 Developing strategies to encourage an active lifestyle among adolescents may contribute to reducing the prevalence of chronic disease in these countries. This study assessed the perceptions of rural and urban Costa Rican adolescents regarding which factors affect their adoption of a healthful, active lifestyle and explores their suggestions to encourage the adoption of such a lifestyle
Influence of sensory and cultural perceptions of white rice, brown rice and beans by Costa Rican adults in their dietary choices
(ELSEVIER, 2014-10-01) Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Mattei, Josiemer; Fuster, Tamara; Willet, Walter; Campos, Hannia
Little is known about the distinct perceptions towards rice and beans that may shape the consumption of these main staple foods among Costa Ricans. We aimed to identify barriers and motivators that could change the current staple into a healthier one, and assess the sensory perceptions of these foods in this population. Focus group discussions and sensory tastings of 8 traditional white or brown rice and beans preparations were conducted in 98 Costa Ricans, aged 40-65 years. Traditional habits and family support emerged as the two main drivers for current consumption. Consuming similar amounts of rice and beans, as well as unfamiliarity with brown rice, are habits engrained in the Costa Rican culture, and are reinforced in the family and community environment. Suggested strategies for consuming more brown rice and more beans included introducing them during childhood, disseminating information of their health benefits that take into account the importance of tradition, lowering the cost, increasing availability, engaging women as agents of change and for brown rice masking the perceived unpleasant sensory characteristics by incorporating them into mixed dishes. Plain brown rice received the lowest mean hedonic liking scores. The preparations rated highest for pleasant were the beans: rice 1:1 ratio regardless of the type of rice. This study identified novel strategies to motivate Costa Rican adults to adapt their food choices into healthier ones within their cultural and sensory acceptability. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Photosynthetic responses to temperature of two tropical rainforest tree species from Costa Rica
(Springer Verlag, 2013-04-16) Vargas G., German; Cordero Solórzano, Roberto A.
Annual mean temperature increases will cause alterations in many ecosystem processes, which affect plants given their physiological sensitivity to temperature. That is closely related with plant growing conditions, genotype and plasticity. We studied the photosynthetic responses to instantaneous temperature changes and functional leaf traits in two tropical tree species associated with different successional positions, Zygia longifolia (early successional) and Dipteryx oleifera (late successional), in the northern lowlands of Costa Rica. As a whole, we found two different strategies to avoid temperature stress: one reducing WUE (Z. longifolia), and the other one increasing metabolic rates (D. oleifera). However, the ability to withstand stressful situations may, in a larger context, negatively affect ecosystem water and carbon fluxes. Also, functional plasticity in response to temperature changes may relatively affect the ecosystem by causing long-term variations in their representation within the complex diversity mosaic of their forest habitats.
Reflexiones acerca del trabajo con organizaciones populares y diagnóstico de los sectores sociales. Una experiencia en una zona urbano-empobrecida
(Editorial de la Universidad Nacional, 1991-12) Mondol Velázquez, Jalima
Muchas son los esfuerzos que están siendo dirigidos a procurar el desarrollo autogestionario de los sectores populares. Sin embargo, no existe aún criterios unificados que posibiliten algunas líneas de consenso-estratégico que contribuyan a la acción efectiva y permanente de estos grupos. El abrir espacios de intercambio no sólo entre los académicos comprometidos con este tipo de luchas, sino también «entre» y "con" los sujetos protagónicos es una forma de ir creando estrategias de acción conjunta que brinden un aporte significativo a estos procesos. Producto de este interés central, se circunscribe el presente artículo. Creo oportuno convenir con los lectores, que no se trata de una exposición detallada y lineal de la experiencia que se está desarrollando en Sagrada Familia, sino más bien la reflexión de algunos ejes temáticos que contribuyan a establecer lineamientos de integración del trabajo con organizaciones populares. Desde este punto de vista, un primer aspecto que vale la pena resaltar es la ubicación dinámica de los sectores sociales estratégicos, con los cuales estamos trabajando. Los barrios pobres urbanos no son unidades sociales homogéneas, en donde viven inmensas familias con los mismos intereses y problemas. Los estudios realizados demuestran más bien una acentuada heterogeneidad social, derivada especialmente del tipo de inserción laboral, de la historia de cada grupo o núcleo social y de un sinnúmero de problemas específicos muchas veces producidos por el lugar espacial que ocupan.
Testing a proactive model of successful aging among older adults in Costa Rica and Spain
(SAGE Publications, 2021-07-01) Blanco-Molina, Mauricio; PINAZO-HERNANDIS, SACRAMENTO; Montoro Rodriguez, Julian; Tomas, Jose Manuel
The purpose of this study is to examine successful aging among Spanish-speaking older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain using the proactive framework proposed by Kahana et al. (2014). More specifically, we hypothesized that older adults’ life satisfaction would be positively associated with the frequency and perceived level of social support, spirituality/having purpose in life, and the use of proactive physical, cognitive, and social self-care behaviors. Our results confirmed these hypotheses, not only for the overall group of participants, but also separately for older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain. The present study contributes to the literature of successful aging among older adults, by examining the protective factors associated with life satisfaction among Spanish speaking older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain. It identifies specific protective factors (spirituality/purpose in life, social support, and self-care) associated with the values and preferences held by participants in the study.

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