CHRONOBIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: STUDY OF CASES IN HABITANTS FROM THE PUNA OF JUJUY

HERNANDEZ DE BORSETTI N.E; GONZALES POMA E.

Biocell

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Año: 2022 vol. 46

The altitudinal gradient and the topography diversity of Jujuy generate a big variety of environmental factors that the human populations distributed in them are exposed, corresponding to the Puna 2/3 of the provincial surface. The Puna presents a hostile environment, so there is a low population density, and, therefore, few studies were done. We studied the relationship between light-environment-quality of life perceived in people of the Puna. Geographic-climatic-environmental variables were analyzed (environmental light, photoperiod, heliophany, and light intensity, through the seasons), in order to be contrasted with well-being data, throw WHOQOL-BREF (W-B) questionnaire. The hypothesis was: the environmental light influences people's behavior and well-being. 32 individuals were analyzed with a neutral chronotype (evening-morning questionnaire, 20 and 50 years old). Seasonal data were collected, generating four-dimensional profiles (physical health, mental health, social relationships and environment) and 2 items on the perception of life´s quality and personal´s health. The results of the W-B questionnaire showed psychometric resolution power, accentuated in opposite seasons of the year. Statistical analysis (ANAVA-Tukey Test) concluded that there are no significant differences for the analyzed variables between spring-summer and between autumn-winter, coinciding with the values of photoperiod and maximum light intensity measured. However, statistical differences were found between contrasting seasons (summer–winter). The trend shows that the values of all the variables studied decrease towards the winter solstice, and rise towards the summer solstice, adjusting to the expected chronobiological models, showing altitudinal weighting.