Mapping Ageism in Media Representations of Older Adults in Italy: An Interdisciplinary Media-Analytical and Health Psychology Analysis

Ageism shapes contemporary understandings of aging and remains one of the most pervasive yet least examined forms of social bias in media narratives. In societies marked by demographic aging and expanding digital cultures, media representations define which forms of later life appear normal and desirable, while others are marginalized or silenced. Although research on age-related stereotypes is growing, significant gaps remain in understanding how media environments produce ageist narratives and how older adults themselves engage with these portrayals. Addressing these gaps is essential for changing the narrative surrounding aging. Situated at the intersection of media studies, health psychology, and aging studies, this research offers an innovative contribution within the Italian context. It adopts a comparative, cross-media perspective examining highly visible newspaper articles, Italian films, and social media posts over seven years. This captures continuity and change in older-adult representations. Using a longitudinal lens, the study identifies narrative frames and social roles, with attention to intersections of age with gender, ethnicity, and sexuality, alongside opportunities for self-representation. Methodologically, the project employs a multi-level design combining a scoping review, linguistic-discursive analysis, and mixed qualitative and quantitative psychological tools. These methods examine how media narratives shape subjective perceptions of aging and identification processes. By linking representations to ageist narratives and stereotype reinforcement or disruption, the study informs practical guidelines for aging-related fields and contributes to advancing knowledge on ageism. This conference presentation will outline the analytical framework and present initial findings, highlighting possibilities for transforming later-life portrayals and outlining directions for future research.