Psychological Well-being and Quality of Life among the Indigenous Elderly Ecuadorians

The current study aims to measure the levels of psychological health and life satisfaction among older persons in Ecuador. There were 280 elderly people from the Cañari indigenous village of Cuenca, Ecuador whose ages ranged from 65 to 100 (Mage = 1.4643, DE =.49962) were assessed through online interviews conducted over the phone and email. A study using sociodemographic records, Ryff Psychological well-being questionnaires, and WHOQOL AGE found low and very low levels of psychological well-being and quality of life in the elderly population. The study concluded that there is no direct relationship between these factors

well-being, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction in university populations, promoting happiness and fulfilment (Moreta et. al., 2017), The study shows a positive correlation between psychological well-being, social support, physical and mental health status, and quality of life in older adults indicate a significant correlation (Cuadra-Peralta, 2016). Analyzing elderly perceptions of quality of life in public health centers in the country (Herrera & Mora, 2016), No correlation found between study variables.
Research indicates state priority for protection and care during development stages. However, economic crisis and access challenges hinder full coverage of vulnerable populations in Ecuador. Determine psychological well-being and quality of life in elderly indigenous Cuenca residents by examining relationships between variables and identifying living conditions.

Method
The research aimed to understand the prevalence of well-being and quality of life in Ecuador's elderly population and their relationship (Alto, López, & Benavente, 2013).

Participants
The present investigation was carried out in the community of Cañari, located in the Cuenca canton, province of Azuay in Ecuador, the study consisted of 280 older adults. According to him gender 130 men (46.4%) and 150 women (53.6%), aged between 65 and 100 years (Mage =1.4643, SD= .49962). The selection of the participants was carried out through a non-probabilistic sampling with criteria of Defined inclusion: a) Elderly indigenous residents of Cuenca; b) Meet the age required from 65 years and older; and c) Accept voluntary participation in the study by the informed consent letter. The application of the tests took place between the month of September 2022 to December 2022 through the phone/emails.

Psychological Well-being
Psychological well-Being Questionnaire (Ryff, 1989) in the proposed version of Van Dierendonck (2004) which consists of 39 items and which was adapted to the Spanish version in an analysis in which reduced the instrument to 29 items (Díaz et. al., 2006). The response format is a Likert scale of six options: from totally disagree (1) to totally agree (6). The questionnaire measures the psychological well-being with six original subscales: a) Self-acceptance, b) Positive Relationships, c) Autonomy, d) Mastery of the Environment, e) Purpose in Life and e) Personal Growth. The scale It has high internal consistency between α= .78 and α= .81 in the Spanish population. In the analysis of the study sample, the internal consistency values reached were α= .86, which is equivalent to a high internal consistency reliability.

Quality of Life Questionnaire
The World Health Organization Quality of Life by Age Questionnaire (WHOQOL AGE, WHO. (Santos, D., Abad, FJ, Miret, M. et al, 2018) adapted for elderly in Ecuador according to with Ortega and others (2018). The test was specifically designed to assess the quality of life in elderly people. The items have been derived from the EUROHIS-QOL instruments (E. Braehler, H. Muhlan, C. Albani et al. al., 2007) and World Health Organization Quality of Life of Older Adults WHOQOL-OLD (World Health Organization, 2006). It is composed of 13 items in a Likert scale with five response options: Very bad/very dissatisfied to very good/very satisfied (5) for factor one; none/none (1) to completely (5) for factor two. The validity convergent is estimated at α = 0.75 and adequate discriminant validity was shown. in the study of the current population, the internal consistency values reached were α=.71, which represents to acceptable reliability. The study analyses sociodemographic factors of the elderly using closed-ended questionnaires, collecting information on gender, age, and marital status.

Procedure
Trade requested permission from the Ministry of Social Inclusion and Economic for data collection in Cuenca Parish, Ecuador. Participants were informed about research project, objectives, and participation methods. The process evaluation involved elderly homes individually, following biosafety regulations, and obtaining written consent from participants. Participants participated freely and voluntary, adhering to the last two weeks' questions. After evaluations, data purification and systematization were performed, adhering to Helsinki Convention ethical standards for human research.

Analysis of Data
The statistical processing involved using SPSS version 25.0 to calculate instrument reliability and conduct descriptive analysis of psychological well-being questionnaires. The analysis included arithmetic mean and ijps.ccsenet.org International Journal of Psychological Studies Vol. 15, No. 3;2023 standard deviation for global scales, ensuring internal consistency. The results were analysed for internal consistency and overall quality of life. These results are also compared by gender, in order to know statistical differences between groups (p< .05). To do this, the t of student test is used for independent samples. Finally, a correlation analysis is carried out between the components of psychological well-being and the quality of life, by calculating the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) the presence or not of association between variables.  The sample's interpretation of psychological well-being shows a deficit in 40% of participants, followed by normal or moderate conditions at 40%. High psychological well-being barely exceeds 15%, indicating a predominantly bad or deficient overall well-being.

Discussion
This research aimed to assess psychological well-being and quality of life in indigenous elderly from Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador. The sample, residing in rural areas with poverty, showed low and very low levels of well-being. The first variable represents Ryff's psychological well-being scale, with 5 subscales showing moderate results and one, personal growth, showing low results at the researcher's discretion.
The results indicate a lack of opportunities in this sector, with low schooling and 22% illiteracy (INEC, 2010). This subscale indicates self-development, but there is little interest in personal growth. Factors like poverty force them to rely on agriculture, which increases physical load and health issues. Quality of life is low globally, with factors such as poverty and physical labor affecting overall well-being.
Health and functionality are determinant factors affecting the results. Health is compromised due to lack of resources and habits, while functionality is crucial for autonomy and a retirement pension. These low results reflect the quality of life individuals need to survive. Gender differences in psychological well-being and quality of life remain invariant. The only significant difference is in the purpose variable with life in the psychological well-being, with women scoring higher than men. Study finds no gender difference in quality of life among older Ecuadorian adults (Herrera & Mora, 2016).
Studies show gender-related differences in perception of quality of life, indicating a potential impact on overall well-being (Perafán, 2007), This research examines the correlation between psychological well-being and quality of life in a small indigenous population with generational differences, generating debate due to culture and ideology. Studies show no correlation between variables like psychological well-being, social support, and physical and mental health, unlike previous positive correlations (Cuadra-Peralta et. al., 2016). Satisfaction with life and psychological well-being are linked through social participation, civic associationism, and proactive behaviours, with a correlation between variables (Moreta et. al., 2017).
The study faced limitations in conducting online interviews with Ecuadorian participants via India. A qualitative analysis is crucial to understand factors affecting psychological well-being and quality of life in the population.

Conclusion
The study concludes that participants' quality of life is inadequate, influenced by socioeconomic characteristics and psychological well-being. This highlights the importance of socializing the needs of this population to improve their quality of life and make significant changes. The study aims to address these issues and improve the overall well-being of participants.