Mapping of Research on the Well-being of Older Adults in Latin America
Abstract
In light of the rapid population aging observed in Latin America, the study of well-being in old age becomes increasingly important and may be regarded as a priority for further investigation in the fields of scientific and social research. In this quantitative and cross-sectional article, we explore this issue through a systematic mapping, using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, by means of searches in the SciELO and LILACS, with the aim of analyzing the scientific output on the well-being of older adults in Latin American countries between 2020 and 2025. From the final collected sample of 179 articles, it was possible to subject them to a detailed analysis of methodological, geographical, and conceptual variables. The results indicated a predominance of quantitative articles (69.3%) with a cross-sectional temporal scope (80.4%), as well as a greater concentration of material published in Brazil (62.6%). The theme of well-being, in turn, proved to be peripheral in its presence (83.8% of publications), appearing primarily within health and medical fields and being commonly associated with the absence of disease. The study concludes by highlighting the need to expand research on the subject, also aiming at a deeper examination of well-being beyond biological characteristics, as an essential resource for aging.
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