Xènia Chela Álvarez

Research Support Technician – Technical Coordinator of IMPaCT Balearic Islands

I hold a degree in Political Science and Public Administration (2003), a PhD in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (2024), a Master’s Degree in Public and Social Policies from Pompeu Fabra University (2005), and a Master’s Degree in Women’s, Gender and Citizenship Studies from the University of Barcelona (2012).

As a researcher, my work has focused on various fields, ranging from the social sciences to the health sciences, but always with an emphasis on social inequalities: socioeconomic, geographical, gender‑related, etc. From a methodological perspective, I have extensive experience in qualitative research. I am currently working at the Research Unit of the Primary Care Management as the technical coordinator of the IMPaCT Cohort in the Balearic Islands, while also collaborating on various studies. I teach qualitative methods in the “Research Methodology Course. Development of a Research Project”, aimed at medical and nursing residents (Mallorca and Ibiza). I am a member of the GRAPP‑CAIB group.

Highlighted Publications

Sánchez-Rodríguez C, Chela-Álvarez X, Llobera J, Vidal-Thomàs MC, Zarzosa C, Bulilete O. Evaluation of an intervention based on lifestyle modification and coping with chronic pain and stress in reducing pain in hotel housekeepers: a cluster-randomised clinical trial in primary health care. Acad J Health Sci 2025; 40(6):66-77. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3306/AJHS.2025.40.06.6.

García-Buades, M. E., Montañez-Juan, M., Blahopoulou, J., Ortiz-Bonnin, S., Chela-Alvarez, X., Bulilete, O., & Llobera, J. (2025). Psychosocial Work Factors, Job Stress, and Self-Rated Health Among Hotel Housekeepers. Workplace health & safety, 73(3), 116–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799241282787

Chela-Alvarez, X., Leiva, A., Bulilete, O., & Llobera, J. (2024). Socioeconomic determinants and self-rated health among hotel housekeepers in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Frontiers in public health, 12, 1390582. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390582

Young-Silva, Y., Berenguera, A., Juvinyà-Canal, D., Martí-Lluch, R., Arroyo-Uriarte, P., Tamayo-Morales, O., Marcilla-Toribio, I., Elizondo-Alzola, U., Méndez-López, F., Chela-Àlvarez, X., & Motrico, E. (2024). Exploring personal aptitudes and personality traits that, together with social determinants, shape health behaviors and conduct: a thematic analysis based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior (COM-B) change system. Frontiers in public health, 12, 1387528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1387528

Ripoll, J., Chela-Alvarez, X., Briones-Vozmediano, E., Fiol de-Roque, M. A., Zamanillo-Campos, R., Ricci-Cabello, I., Llobera, J., Calafat-Villalonga, C., & Serrano-Ripoll, M. J. (2024). Impact of COVID-19 on mental health of health care workers in Spain: a mix-methods study. BMC public health, 24(1), 463. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17979-z

Chela-Alvarez, X., Bulilete, O., García-Buades, M. E., Ferrer-Perez, V. A., & Llobera, J. (2024). Workplace bullying and sexual harassment at work among hotel housekeepers in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1241255. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1241255

Young-Silva, Y., Berenguera, A., Jacques-Aviñó, C., Gil-Girbau, M., Arroyo-Uriarte, P., Chela-Alvarez, X., Ripoll, J., Martí-Lluch, R., Ramos, R., Elizondo-Alzola, U., Garcia-Martinez, S., Méndez-López, F., Tamayo-Morales, O., Martínez-Andrés, M., Motrico, E., Gómez-Gómez, I., Fernández-Alvarez, R., Juvinyà-Canal, D., & DESVELA Cohort investigators (2023). Role of personal aptitudes as determinants of incident morbidity, lifestyles, quality of life, use of the health services and mortality (DESVELA cohort): qualitative study protocol for a prospective cohort study in a hybrid analysis. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1069957. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1069957

Chela-Alvarez, X., Garcia-Buades, M. E., Ferrer-Perez, V. A., Bulilete, O., & Llobera, J. (2023). Work-family conflict among hotel housekeepers in the Balearic Islands (Spain). PloS one, 18(3), e0269074. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269074

Chela-Alvarez, X., Leiva, A., Gallardo-Alfaro, L., Bulilete, O., Vidal-Thomas, M., & Llobera, J. (2022). Anxiety, Depression, and Concern About Employment Status of Hotel Housekeepers in the Balearic Islands During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 842335. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.842335

Chela-Alvarez, X., Bulilete, O., Garcia-Illan, E., Vidal-Thomàs, M., Llobera, J., & Arenal Group (2022). Hotel housekeepers and occupational health: experiences and perceived risks. Annals of occupational and environmental medicine, 34, e29. https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e29

Sánchez-Rodríguez, C., Bulilete, O., Chela-Alvarez, X., Velasco-Roldán, O., & Llobera-Canaves, J. (2022). Chronic Pain and Work Conditions of Hotel Housekeepers: A Descriptive Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(6), 3383. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063383

Chela-Alvarez, X., Bulilete, O., García-Buades, M. E., Ferrer-Perez, V. A., & Llobera-Canaves, J. (2020). Perceived Factors of Stress and Its Outcomes among Hotel Housekeepers in the Balearic Islands: A Qualitative Approach from a Gender Perspective. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010052

Llobera Cifre, R., Ferrer Pérez, V. A.; Chela Àlvarez, X (2019). Violencia obstétrica: la perspectiva de las mujeres que la han sufrido. Investigaciones feministas 10.1, 167-184. https://doi.org/10.5209/infe.60886.

Projects

Analysis of gender inequalities in the diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the Balearic Islands: a mixed‑methods study.

Code: PRI25/03
Project Scope: Regional
Funding Entity: Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears (IdISBa)
Principal Investigator: Xènia Chela Àlvarez
Start date: February 2026
End date: July 2027

Analysis of the reasons for discontinuing breastfeeding before six months of life in the population of the Balearic Islands: a mixed‑methods, prospective, multicentre study across different levels of care.

Code: PI01/2025
Project Scopus: Local
Funding Entity: Comissió d’Investigació d’Atenció Primària Mallorca
Principal Investigator: Maria Antònia Mas Galmés
Start date: April 2025
End date: April 2027

Analysis of the process and impact of co‑creative methodology in designing the common areas of a health centre in relation to comfort and health promotion, as well as its transferability.

Code: SalusInf2/2024
Project Scope: Regional
Funding Entity: Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears (IdISBa)
Principal Investigator: Bartolomé Villalonga Mut
Start date: January 2025
End date: June 2026

Suicide prevention through innovative approaches in primary care: PROMESA Study

Code: PROSALUT2023-26
Project Scope: Regional
Funding Entity: Conselleria de Salut
Principal Investigator: Maria Jesús Serrano Ripoll
Start date: May 2024
End date: April 2027

Evaluation of the implementation of pediatric nursing consultations in primary care, designed as health‑learning environments within the framework of the Child and Adolescent Health Program. Feasibility, applicability, and impact on both professionals and users

Code: PRI23/05
Project Scope: Regional
Funding Entity: Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears (IdISBa)
Principal Investigator: Maria Clara Vidal-Thomàs
Start date: April 2024
End date:July 2026

Development and validation of a short screener to assess adherence to nutrition-based cancer prevention recommendation

Code: SYN21/05
Project Scope: Regional
Funding Entity: Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears (IdISBa)
Principal Investigator: Dora Romaguera Bosch
Start date: June 2022
End date: November 2025

DESVELA Cohort. Analysis of the role of personal skills as determinants of the incidence of morbidity, lifestyles, quality of life, use of services and mortality.

Code: PI19/01868
Project Scope: National
Funding Entity: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Principal Investigator: Joan Llobera Cànaves
Start date: 2019
End date: 2023

Housekeeping staff and health.

Code: ITS 17-096
Project Scopus: Local
Funding Entity: Govern de les Illes Balears. II Convocatoria de ayudas del impuesto de turismo sostenible
Principal Investigator: Joan Llobera Cànaves
Start date: 2018
End date: 2022