Perceptions of ageism among older adults in a Cultural Center in Mexico City

an exploratory study for bioethical reflection

Abstract

Problem statement: Ageism is a phenomenon that occurs in older adults. Discrimination or even the perception of discrimination has been discovered in various studies. Objective: This project aims to conduct an exploratory approach with a group of older people who attend a Cultural Center that offers both physical and mental exercise activities as well as recreational activities for older adults, and thus delineate the present bioethical issues. Materials: An instrument originally used in Cuba (Brito & Iraizoz, 2012) was validated by a jury to adapt it to the Mexican population. Method: The survey was conducted between September 2 and September 8, 2025. In total, 50 out of 200 people wanted to answer the survey at the Cuauhtémoc Cultural Center in Mexico City. General data and respective qualitative responses were collected. A hermeneutic interpretation was carried out following the model of Elio Sgreccia. Results: The presence of ageism (discrimination by age) was found in nearly half of the respondents. They reported discrimination in external areas to the Center in some cases involving family members. Conclusions: Positive aspects were discovered at the Cultural Center, especially a sense of belonging and mutual recognition and appreciation. However, people reported discrimination outside of that environment but pointed out the benefits of their participation in the Center's activities. The principles of subsidiarity and solidarity can be applied to improve the benefits of the Center's activities