Discursive Construction of Aging: Older Adults’ Experiences and Perspectives of Becoming Old

Abstract

This study explores the discourses of aging through which older adults in China construct their experiences of growing old. Guided by social constructionism and life course theory, the research examines how language shapes perceptions of aging within specific cultural and social contexts. Data were collected through 2 focus group interviews and 10 individual interviews with 30 participants aged above 65. Discourse analysis was employed to identify patterns in the participants’ narratives. Findings revealed four dominant discourses: (1) Aging as negotiated decline; (2) Illness as discursive threshold; (3) Mindset as moral and regulatory discourse; (4) lifestyle as self-governance. The older adults used positive discourse to showcase their positive attitudes towards aging. Their narratives underscored the significance of self-care practices and mental attitudes as strategies to maintain health and vitality in later life. These findings highlight the emergence of a culturally specific notion of “positive aging” in China, shaped by both state policy and individual agency. The study contributes to discourse analysis of aging by situating older adults’ voices within broader socio-cultural contexts. It also offers practical implications for policymakers to design health promotion programs and support services that align with older adults’ lived experiences.