El objetivo fue comparar las representaciones sociales (RS) del envejecimiento y la calidad de vida (CV) en la vejez para ancianos ribereños. Este es un estudio cualitativo-exploratorio con muestra no probabilística. Se utilizaron cuestionarios sociodemográficos y la técnica de asociación de palabras libres. Participaron 100 ancianos, emparejados por sexo, con edades entre 60-89 años (M = 70.08 años; DE = 7.19). Fue empleado el software IRaMuTeQ mediante análisis prototípico, que proporcionó la estructura de representación. Se observaron elementos centrales negativos en la RS del envejecimiento y elementos positivos en la RS de la CV en la vejez, lo que denota la paradoja del bienestar; esto es, autoinformes positivos de satisfacción con la vida, aunque en presencia de pérdidas por envejecimiento.

This study aimed to compare the Social Representations (SR) of aging and quality of life (QoL) in old age for riparian elderly. This is a qualitative-exploratory study with a non-probabilistic sample. Sociodemographic questionnaires and the free word association technique were used. Participants were 100 elderly, matched for sex, aged 60-89 years (M = 70.08 years; SD = 7.19). The IRaMuTeQ software was used through the prototypical analysis, which provided the representational structure. Negative central elements were observed in the SR of aging and more positive elements in the SR of QoL in old age, which denotes the welfare paradox; that is, positive self-reports of life satisfaction, even in the presence of aging losses.

This study aimed to compare the Social Representations (SR) of aging and quality of life (QoL) in old age for riparian elderly. This is a qualitative-exploratory study with a non-probabilistic sample. Sociodemographic questionnaires and the free word association technique were used. Participants were 100 elderly, matched for sex, aged 60-89 years (M = 70.08 years; SD = 7.19). The IRaMuTeQ software was used through the prototypical analysis, which provided the representational structure. Negative central elements were observed in the SR of aging and more positive elements in the SR of QoL in old age, which denotes the welfare paradox; that is, positive self-reports of life satisfaction, even in the presence of aging losses.