معرفی
Axel Ågren serves as a Lecturer at Linköping University within the Department of Social Work under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His research centers on societal constructions of elderly loneliness in Sweden, critically examining media narratives, policy frameworks, and public discourse that frame this issue as a crisis despite evidence showing older adults do not experience loneliness disproportionately. Ågren actively contributes to the Aging and Social Change (ASC) research environment and coordinates the regional network 'Liv hela livet' focused on elderly loneliness and community building.
His research interests reveal a sophisticated analysis of how loneliness among the elderly becomes problematized through societal lenses. Ågren investigates the dissonance between empirical data (showing similar loneliness rates across age groups) and dominant narratives that label elderly loneliness as 'the biggest societal problem' or 'deadly.' His work spans media discourse analysis, policy critique, and qualitative exploration of lived experiences, consistently highlighting responsibility attribution in solutions and the tension between individual experiences and societal constructions.
Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological diversity including discourse analysis, scoping reviews, and narrative studies, with recurring themes of media representation, palliative care policy integration, and community-based interventions. A distinctive trend is Ågren's focus on shifting from deficit-based loneliness models to agency-centered approaches, while maintaining critical attention to how social work professionals are positioned within policy frameworks.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Norrköping Municipality Scholarship for young researchers, awarded for contributions to community development through elderly loneliness research and network building
Ågren maintains significant professional engagement as chair of FORSA Östergötland's board, substitute board member for International Council of Social Welfare Sweden, and organizer of national/international conferences on elderly loneliness. His invited speaking engagements at events like Seniordagen Finspång (2015) and Danish conferences demonstrate scholarly influence. Current activities include coordinating the 'Liv hela livet' network and contributing to international social work initiatives through ICSW.
