What is it about?
This study looks at how Australian newspapers talk about depression in older age. We compared articles that describe older people as “seniors” with those that call them “the elderly.” We found that these labels matter: “seniors” are more often linked with stories of control and recovery, while “the elderly” are portrayed as having little agency and facing depression as a permanent state. The research shows how everyday media language can shape the description of ageing, mental health, and stigma.
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Why is it important?
The way the media talks about late-life depression influences how society understands ageing and mental health. If depression is framed as inevitable and unchangeable, older people may be less likely to seek help, and stereotypes about ageing may be reinforced. By showing how simple word choices like “seniors” or “the elderly” affect these perceptions, this research highlights the power of language in shaping stigma and points to more respectful, supportive ways of talking about mental health in later life.
Perspectives
This research shows that the words we choose — “seniors” versus “the elderly” — carry metaphors that can either empower or disempower older people. Recognizing these subtle patterns in media language helps us challenge ageist stereotypes and open up space for more hopeful, supportive ways of framing mental health in later life.
Lilla Petronella Szabó
Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: “Don’t worry, be a senior?” The metaphorical labelling of late-life depression in Australian news media, Text & Talk - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Language Discourse Communication Studies, January 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/text-2023-0200.
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