Is an Intergenerational Program Effective in Increasing Social Capital among Participants? A Preliminary Study in Korea

Junghyun Kim,Soondool Chung

doi:10.3390/su14031796

Junghyun Kim, Soondool Chung

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031796

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Abstract

The rapid growth of the aging population and low economic growth have intensified generational conflicts, especially in the workplace. Social capital is one option that can solve generational conflicts by encouraging cooperation among colleagues. This study aims to explore the impact of the intergenerational program, Sedae Ieum Madang, on perceived social capital among participants in Korea. To measure the impact of the program, a one-group pretest/posttest design was applied, and a purposive sampling method was adopted to recruit participants. The final sample size was 53, including 30 older adults and 23 young adults. In items that measured participants’ level of trust in colleagues, the subindex of social capital was compared between before and after the program. Each item relates to peoples’ experience of social support in workplaces, as suggested in the swAge model. According to the measurement, peoples’ level of trust in their colleagues changed; only the older generation’s trust in their colleagues increased, while that of the younger generation did not. The results of this study show that the intergenerational program is effective in encouraging the older generation to trust their colleagues and fostering mutual support between younger and older generations, which is important in developing sustainable work environments.

Highlights

Academic Editors: Kerstin Nilsson, Tove Midtsundstad, Peter Lundqvist, Joanne Crawford, Nygård ClasHåkan and Marc A
The results of this study show that the intergenerational program is effective in encouraging the older generation to trust their colleagues and fostering mutual support between younger and older generations, which is important in developing sustainable work environments
The results showed that social capital such as trust between the older adults and children in a local community was increased as they administered the ongoing intergenerational programs [21,34]

Summary

Introduction

Academic Editors: Kerstin Nilsson, Tove Midtsundstad, Peter Lundqvist, Joanne Crawford, Nygård ClasHåkan and Marc A. Korean culture is strongly influenced by the Confucian ethic of filial piety, which says that younger generations are obligated to respect and care for older adults [1]. Respect for older adults based on filial piety has resulted from the emphasis on social relationships and intergenerational hierarchy [2]. As the retirement age for older adults has increased, they stay for longer in the job market, leading younger people to think that older adults are taking up their potential jobs by not retiring [4]. Older adults view various social issues differently from younger people [7]. The attitude of younger people toward older adults is negative and intergenerational conflicts have been observed, especially in the labor market [7,8]. From the perspective of the swAge model, the negative attitudes of younger workers toward older workers interrupt sustainable working life for people of all ages [9]

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