Using a Quasi-Experimental Study to Examine Program Participation and Outcomes for Older Adult Intergenerational Technology Program Participants

Abstract

ABSTRACT To extend the literature on participation in intergenerational technology programs, we conducted a quasi-experimental study consisting of senior center participants, half who took part in the University of Rhode Island Engaging Generations Cyber-Seniors (URI eGen Cyber-Seniors) Program and half who did not. Findings showed that both groups were similar on most variables; however participants did have higher education levels and more positive attitudes toward younger people. We also examined if older adult program participants improved scores on social and technological measures compared to the control group, and we found participants improved on technology use, digital competence, loneliness, and doing unpaid community service measures but not the non-participants.