Construindo pontes entre acadêmicos e profissionais em crises prolongadas: mulheres na Colômbia e Venezuela

Abstract

This article analyses the possibility of integrating knowledge produced in academic research contexts andthe needs mentioned by field professionals in psychosocial intervention programs. Results from two studiesconducted with women with high psychosocial vulnerability will be presented. The first study is a copingstrategies program with 117 Colombia female participants in a context of historical armed violence. The aimof the intervention was to promote ways of better adjusting to the situation of violence and suffered traumaby developing and learning to use more adaptive coping strategies. The longitudinal design (pre-post test)showed improvements in: a) use of more adaptive strategies coping with violence; b) strengthening of socialgroups and community processes. The second study, based on the needs exposed by different NGO’s andstakeholders in Venezuela, consisted of a cross-sectional study analysing how coping strategies and hopehad an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of 95 female participants within a context of political,economic and violence fuelled crisis. Results show that: a) adaptive coping strategies and hope significantlyhelp explain mental health and well-being; b) empirical evidence can be used to reinforce psychosocial andprofessional training programs. Both studies validate the idea that it is necessary to use academic knowledgein professional contexts, and that research carried out be academics should be grounded in needs detectedby field professional staff and participants