Study on the Link Between Ageism and Loneliness: Analyzing, Raising Awareness, and Preventing Discrimination Against Older Adults

Scientific evidence shows that ageism not only affects society’s perception of aging but also has direct consequences for physical and mental health, social participation, and the exercise of rights.

In Spain, this phenomenon takes on special relevance in the context of an aging population and rising rates of unwanted loneliness, particularly among older adults in vulnerable situations.

To address this gap, the project proposes conducting a qualitative study based on life stories to identify the mechanisms through which ageism contributes to the experience of loneliness, as well as the associated risk and protective factors. This approach seeks not only to generate evidence but also to give a voice to older adults themselves as protagonists of their own experiences, promoting their recognition as active agents and helping to dismantle stereotypical narratives about old age.

Thus, this is an exploratory, interpretive, and non-representative study that offers an analysis enabling a deeper understanding of dynamics such as the loss of social value once people come to be considered older, processes of exclusion (both explicit and implicit), and the ways in which these impact the daily lives, relationships, and well-being of older adults, contributing to the emergence or worsening of situations of unwanted loneliness and social isolation.

This study and the subsequent campaign it gives rise to align with the need to promote public policies, regulatory frameworks, and social practices that guarantee fairer, more inclusive, and more respectful environments, where older adults can live free from discrimination and fully realize their life plans.