Abstract
Research suggests that positive intergenerational contact can improve young people's attitudes towards older adults. However, today's age‐segregated society may not provide ample opportunities for positive contact between younger and older adults to occur on a regular basis. In three studies, we investigated whether the positive attitudinal outcomes associated with direct contact might also stem from a more indirect form of intergenerational relationship: extended contact. In Study 1 (N = 70), extended contact was associated with more positive attitudes towards older adults even when controlling for direct intergenerational contact (contact frequency and contact quality). In Study 2 (N = 110), the positive effects of direct and extended contact on young people's age‐related attitudes were mediated by reductions in intergroup anxiety and ageing anxiety. The mediational effects of intergroup anxiety were replicated in Study 3 (N = 95) and ingroup norms additionally emerged as a mediator of the positive effects of extended contact on young people's attitudes towards older adults. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at tackling ageism.
Highlights
Research suggests that positive intergenerational contact can improve young people’s attitudes towards older adults
The present results suggest that direct contact may not even be necessary to reduce ageism: knowing that their same-age peers have positive intergenerational relationships may be sufficient to improve young people’s attitudes towards older adults
A limitation with Studies 1 and 2 concerns the samples used. Both studies were conducted with student samples, and it is possible that students may have different experiences of contact with older adults as compared to non-students, especially since students are more likely to come into contact with competent older individuals on a regular basis
Summary
Mediation of the contact quality – attitudes relationship In this analysis, intergroup anxiety, ageing anxiety, ingroup norms, and self-disclosure were investigated as mediators of the positive association between contact quality and young people’s attitudes towards older adults. The specific indirect effects through ageing anxiety, PE = .002, SE = .02, BI CI [À.043, .056], ingroup norms, PE = .05, SE = .04, BI CI [À.004, .149], and self-disclosure, PE = .02, SE = .05, BI CI [À.050, .136] were not significant This confirms that intergroup anxiety mediates between contact quality and young people’s attitudes towards older adults. The specific indirect effect through ageing anxiety, PE = À.0002, SE = .02, BI CI [À.042, .049], and self-disclosure, PE = .01, SE = .05, BI CI [À.065, .145], were not significant This confirms that intergroup anxiety and ingroup norms mediate between extended contact and young people’s age-related attitudes
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