Psychosocial Factors of Community Coexistence in Latin America: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a systematic review of studies published in Latin America between 2018 and 2025, aimed at analyzing the psychosocial factors associated with coexistence in community settings., with the aim of analyzing the psychosocial factors of coexistence in the community context. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, focusing on scientific articles published in five Latin American open-access databases. Fifty-three publications were identified that met the established inclusion criteria.

The findings indicate that community coexistence is a complex, multidimensional, and multiscalar phenomenon, the understanding of which requires integrating psychosocial, cultural, territorial, political, economic, and environmental elements. The studies agree that coexistence cannot be reduced to the absence of conflict, but rather constitutes an ongoing process of building relationships, shared meanings, participation, and collective well-being. The systematic presence of social inequality, the normalization of violence, the culture of illegality and spatial segregation are explanatory factors for multiple coexistence problems. Additionally, these factors contribute to isolation, distrust, and social fragmentation.

Finally, coexistence seems to deteriorate when people stop sharing common experiences and social, spatial, and symbolic boundaries between people, groups, and the community increase.