Análisis de la influencia de género en los trastornos psicosomáticos y sus determinantes psicosociales y culturales

Identifier:  TDX:4236

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4236

Authors:  Torrubia Pérez, Elisabet

Abstract:
Psychosocial and cultural determinants have a special influence on the development, manifestation and prognosis of psychosomatic disorders (TPS). These determinants are influenced by the socio-political context, characterized by strong gender inequalities. Therefore, this study analyzes the psychosocial and cultural factors that may constitute a risk for the development of psychosomatic disorders with a gender difference. For this purpose, an investigation divided into three phases has been carried out: Phase 0: Exploratory, a narrative and critical review of the literature; Phase I: Descriptive, a population-based retrospective observational descriptive study, based on the clinical data extracted from the e-CAP database; and Phase II: Clinical, in which an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out. In Phase I, 33,680 diagnosed cases of TPS with a gender difference were analyzed, revealing a significantly higher prevalence of women with these diagnoses, although with particularities according to age. In Phase II, 180 people diagnosed with TPS answered four questionnaires that revealed that the vulnerability profile before TPS is that of a woman from a disadvantaged social class. The quality of life and the self-perception of health are lower in women. On the other hand, men diagnosed with some TPS adopt more maladaptive coping strategies and present more severe psychopathological symptoms. All this suggests the need to include in the study and approach from the health disciplines, the gender perspective and intersectional approach.