From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People

Population ageing is a growing global phenomenon. It occurs in various realities, is multifactorial, heterogeneous and dynamic. Perceptions on the subject are also diverse. This study is based on Moscovici's theory of Social Representations, which seeks to explain how phenomena can be understo...

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Main Authors: Igor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra, Ludgleydson Fernandes De Araújo, Evair Mendes da Silva Sousa, Mateus Egilson da Silva Alves, Reina Granados, Pablo Mangas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hipatia Press 2025-07-01
Series:Research on Ageing and Social Policy
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Online Access:http://hpjournals.staging.hipatiapress.com/index.php/rasp/article/view/16837
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author Igor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra
Ludgleydson Fernandes De Araújo
Evair Mendes da Silva Sousa
Mateus Egilson da Silva Alves
Reina Granados
Pablo Mangas
author_facet Igor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra
Ludgleydson Fernandes De Araújo
Evair Mendes da Silva Sousa
Mateus Egilson da Silva Alves
Reina Granados
Pablo Mangas
author_sort Igor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra
collection DOAJ
description Population ageing is a growing global phenomenon. It occurs in various realities, is multifactorial, heterogeneous and dynamic. Perceptions on the subject are also diverse. This study is based on Moscovici's theory of Social Representations, which seeks to explain how phenomena can be understood through socially shared ideas. The aim was to comparatively identify the conceptions of Brazilians and Spaniards about ageing. 500 people took part: 250 Brazilians and 250 Spaniards. The study is qualitative, comparative, descriptive, with cross-sectional data and a non-probabilistic sample. To collect the data, a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered and a guiding question was asked: “What does ageing mean to you?”. Analyses were carried out using SPSS Statistics and Iramuteq software, respectively. Among the representations obtained, the similarities were: a natural process, with bodily changes and that health is necessary to enjoy the last phase of life. Among the differences, there was ambiguity among Brazilians, who understood the phenomenon as something bad, but endowed with knowledge and wisdom. The Spanish were more specific about maturing, citing deterioration, wrinkles and illnesses. It is hoped that this study will encourage others to demystify ideas on the subject and support actions for good ageing in different contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-2a5f002fbc094bc5bd3074fdde16fc772025-08-20T03:12:38ZengHipatia PressResearch on Ageing and Social Policy2014-671X2025-07-01From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish PeopleIgor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra0Ludgleydson Fernandes De Araújo1Evair Mendes da Silva Sousa2Mateus Egilson da Silva Alves3Reina Granados4Pablo Mangas5Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar)Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar)Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar)Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar)University of GranadaUniversity of Granada Population ageing is a growing global phenomenon. It occurs in various realities, is multifactorial, heterogeneous and dynamic. Perceptions on the subject are also diverse. This study is based on Moscovici's theory of Social Representations, which seeks to explain how phenomena can be understood through socially shared ideas. The aim was to comparatively identify the conceptions of Brazilians and Spaniards about ageing. 500 people took part: 250 Brazilians and 250 Spaniards. The study is qualitative, comparative, descriptive, with cross-sectional data and a non-probabilistic sample. To collect the data, a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered and a guiding question was asked: “What does ageing mean to you?”. Analyses were carried out using SPSS Statistics and Iramuteq software, respectively. Among the representations obtained, the similarities were: a natural process, with bodily changes and that health is necessary to enjoy the last phase of life. Among the differences, there was ambiguity among Brazilians, who understood the phenomenon as something bad, but endowed with knowledge and wisdom. The Spanish were more specific about maturing, citing deterioration, wrinkles and illnesses. It is hoped that this study will encourage others to demystify ideas on the subject and support actions for good ageing in different contexts. http://hpjournals.staging.hipatiapress.com/index.php/rasp/article/view/16837agingsocial representationsBrazilSpain
spellingShingle Igor Eduardo de Lima Bezerra
Ludgleydson Fernandes De Araújo
Evair Mendes da Silva Sousa
Mateus Egilson da Silva Alves
Reina Granados
Pablo Mangas
From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
Research on Ageing and Social Policy
aging
social representations
Brazil
Spain
title From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
title_full From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
title_fullStr From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
title_full_unstemmed From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
title_short From Wrinkles to Wisdom: A Comparative Study of the Social Representations of Ageing among Brazilian and Spanish People
title_sort from wrinkles to wisdom a comparative study of the social representations of ageing among brazilian and spanish people
topic aging
social representations
Brazil
Spain
url http://hpjournals.staging.hipatiapress.com/index.php/rasp/article/view/16837
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