Intergenerational Differences Research Articles

Living with diversity and change: intergenerational differences in language and identity in the Somali community in Britain

Abstract The Somali community in Britain has been portrayed as largely homogenous and rather problematic, unwilling to integrate into mainstream British society, a perception that is reinforced by the media and government policies. The government policies tend to ignore the internal diversity and change that the community is experiencing. Drawing on data from a family language policy project, this paper aims to explore intergenerational changes in language preference and use and associated issues of identity within the Somali community in Britain. We look at how the changes in language preference and practice manifest themselves through reported language use and language policies at home, how the changes are affecting the British Somali youths in particular, and how ideas of Somaliness and Britishness are negotiated on an individual level, as well as on a community-wide level through Somali-led organisations. And we highlight the work that the community is doing to tackle issues of intergenerational language shift and Somali identity building. The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the struggles of the Somali community in Britain in dealing with diversity and change, an understanding that is crucial to the development of appropriate policies regarding the community.

Historical and Empirical Evidence for the Schism in the Millennial Generation (Part 1)

The article applies a sociological approach to the study of different generations. The author, who has previously studied Millennials, now divides the generation into two age groups. The author identifies a special group of “3S” Millennials (standing for “smartphones,” “social networks,” and “slowing economy”) who have come of age during the period since 2008, which has been characterized by the long decline of the Russian economy and the massive spread of new technologies and digital user services. Data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the Health and Economic Welfare of the Population conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (1994–2018) are used. The study shows that while Millennials are different in many ways from other generations, members of the generation also differ from each across multiple social characteristics. Part one of the article, which is published in this issue, shows that younger 3S Millennials started using new digital technologies at an earlier (adolescent) age and also continue to use them more often. They are better educated and also have more educated parents. They are more likely to delay important decisions associated with adulthood (marriage, first pregnancy and childbirth, and entry into the labor market). Many intergenerational and intragenerational differences remain significant even after introducing standard control variables and when neighboring generations are adjusted to a similar median age.

Historical and Empirical Evidence for the Schism in the Millennial Generation (Conclusion)

ABSTRACT In this concluding article, the author continues to present the results of his empirical analysis based on the division of the Millennial generation into two age groups. The author devotes particular attention to a special group of “3S” Millennials (standing for “smartphones,” “social networks,” and “slowing economy”) who have come of age during the period since 2008, which has been characterized by the long decline of the Russian economy and the massive spread of new technologies and digital user services. Data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the Health and Economic Welfare of the Population conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (1994–2018) is used. The study shows that while Millennials are different in many ways from other generations, members of the generation also differ from each across multiple social characteristics. The second part of the article shows that younger 3S Millennials drink alcohol less often and in smaller quantities, smoke less, exercise more often, watch less TV, read more, participate more in cultural life and creative activities, are less religious, and are more optimistic regarding their financial situation and life in general. Many intergenerational and intragenerational differences remain significant even after introducing standard control variables and when neighboring generations are adjusted to a similar median age. In conclusion, four typical situations are identified that characterize the ratio of intergenerational to intragenerational differences.

Образовательные траектории трёх российских поколений: от дошкольной подготовки к профессиональному образованию

The paper reviews the educational strategies of Russian generations. Three post-Soviet generation groups (“the reform generation”, “the Millennials” and “the digital generation”) are highlighted. They have several similar features forming the social norms of Russian society, but they also differ to allow a comparative analysis of implemented educational trajectories. The study covers the cycle starting from pre-school preparation to obtaining the first vocation education. It has been revealed that Russian generations demonstrate a steady trend towards maximizing the educational potential right from the pre-school stage. It is shown that representatives of the youngest generation and their parents go through the school stage with a high level of involvement in the creation of knowledge and skills, that may be practically applied when they pass on to the next level of education. However, social ties, which are significant for a successful transition, gradually lose their importance. The obtained data allow us to assume that there is a tendency for secondary vocational education to become a part of successful educational strategies. Addressing the intergenerational differences in professionalization indicates a “fresh approach” of the youngest generation to successful employment, which is associated with the sphere of state administration and enforcement structures to a considerably higher degree. The analysis is based on sociological survey data from 1600 representatives of highlighted generations, conducted by the Center of Economics of continuing education of RANEPA in 2019. The paper is prepared within the framework of the state task implementation of RANEPA.

Intergenerational Differences as a Challenge of Leaders in the Process of Building Commitment of Employees in a Public Organization – An Empirical Research

Purpose: The article aims to show what challenges stem from employees' generational diversity and determine the level of engagement that leaders face in a public organization, using the example of the army. Design/Methodology/Approach: To answer the research problem, an analysis of the source literature (both Polish and foreign) together with a diagnostic survey was carried out with the use of questionnaire techniques on a sample of 158 soldiers – students and attendees of the courses conducted at the War Studies University in Warsaw. The results of the research were subjected to statistical analysis, which allowed to answer the research problem. Findings: The conducted research confirmed the existence of different thinking patterns of the representatives of generations X, Y, and Z, which constitutes a challenge for commanders in the army. The differences were noticed, especially about generation Z in the scope of interpersonal relations, teamwork, and work organization. Practical Implications: The results of the research are significant in the process of building the commitment of employees in public institutions. They reveal differences in the needs and expectations of a multigenerational team, which undoubtedly spur challenges for the leader to reconcile these needs and directly impact the level of commitment and, therefore, the ability to achieve the set goals. Originality/Value: The research provides theoretical assumptions and practical answers to encourage further research globally.

Vécu de jeunes femmes présentant un trouble des conduites alimentaires et de leurs parents en Chine : étude qualitative

IntroductionRecent tendencies show a stabilization in Western countries of the incidence of anorexia nervosa but an increase in Asian countries where it used to be lower. The emergence of these diseases in non-Western countries suggests a culture change syndrome on an individual or societal scale. The great number of changes having occurred in China in the past decades would favor the occurrence of eating disorders. A variability of symptoms of eating disorders can be observed depending on the cultural background which also influences the treatment. There are few studies that exist within an Asian context, and they mostly focus on the care. ObjectivesIn this study, we intend to explore the experience of Chinese female patients hospitalized for an eating disorder and the experience of their parents: their relationship with the symptoms, with their health and their understanding of the disease, in order to identify the impact of the Chinese cultural context upon the disorder. MethodIt is an observational, phenomenological and qualitative study. A purposive sampling was formed from a clinical population group of young teenagers and women, coming from various areas of China and hospitalized in the specialized Psychosomatic Department of Shanghai Mental Health Center, in August and December 2017. The degree of urbanization, the regions and ages categories were wide-ranging, allowing us to maximize the richness of the data assessing the disease and care representations. Two semi-structured interviews were realized with the participants, then with one or both parents. The interviews were realized with an evaluative interview guide by the same researcher together with a Chinese psychology student in order to clarify the translation and the interpretation of the cultural elements expressed by the participants. The analysis was based on the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two researchers read the interview transcripts several times, identified themes then connections between the themes to build a set of meta-themes depicting the narratives. Every meta-theme was linked with its corresponding themes which necessitated during the analysis constant back and forth between the analytical data and the source material. ResultsThirteen female patients and 11 parents took part in the study. The patients were between 12 and 31 years of age. They showed a wide range of eating disorders: restrictive anorexia, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa. Their Body Mass Index at the time of the interview ranged from 11 to 22. Three meta-themes emerged from the analysis: concerns about thinness and health are real catalysts for seeking care, the opposition between parental beliefs about factors of good health and eating symptoms in young girls, and changes in parenting and traditional educational methods induced by eating symptoms. These different themes highlight the fear of thinness and good health being powerful therapeutic levers in China, the intergenerational agreements and disagreements on the factors of good health with the parental experience of consideration around the eating disorder of their daughter, and an impact of traditional educational modalities on the family relational aspects that change with the disorder. DiscussionExploring the experience of young Chinese girls or women suffering from eating disorders highlights the complex interactions between the cultural and clinical context of eating disorders. Weight loss is experienced with great difficulty by the young women of our study, who report somatic symptoms and worry about their thinness. Our results show the central position occupied by maintaining oneself in good health in China, for parents and teenagers alike. This allows a quick reliance on healthcare. The intergenerational differences in China are increased by the rapid changes occurring within Chinese society which can cause conflicts and particularly violent struggles. Its younger generations are becoming more and more globalized. These results provide further evidence that eating disorders are culture change syndromes. The therapeutic impact of our results is twofold. On the individual level, there are therapeutic cultural levers linked with Chinese culture, and they have to be sought in all cultures. The therapeutic education of Chinese patients must be centered on the somatic consequences of the disease in order to increase the adherence to the care. On the familial level, the therapeutic approaches centered on intergenerational conflicts must be developed. ConclusionThe rapid sociocultural changes in China are causing important intergenerational differences, notably between traditional educational modalities and the need for independence of young people who require specific familial therapy. The cultural elements must be taken into account in order to understand eating disorders and to develop relevant therapeutic approaches.

Those Who Want to Play: Pursuing Animal Politics in Upbringing and Education

Education is based on intergenerational divisions into the separate worlds of childhood, adulthood, and seniority which educational scientists further divide into even smaller stages. In this paper, in order to problematize the defined modalities of the existence of a child, an adult, and an elderly individual, I will prompt the rooted opinion that play is characteristic of childhood, while the game is typical of later stages. I intend to find in the human lifespan the moments when, after childhood, an adult abandons to play, and to propose the manners of overcoming the intergenerational differences in formal education as a field for surpassing the given in the entanglement of education and life. To surpass the given is extremely important at a time when education is instrumentalized. One of the ways the human can surpass the given is if they extract from play the principle which Massumi calls ludic expressionesqueness that is not immediately noticeable and that has the potential to reinvigorate both educational practices and life itself. Finally, I will examine theories of education and educational practices to see if they have strengths they can rely on in inspiring ethico-aesthetic practices of becoming with the world. Article received: April 20, 2020; Article accepted: July 1, 2020; Published online: April 15, 2021; Original scholarly paper

Physical Activity and Quality of Life of University Students, Their Parents, and Grandparents in Poland-Selected Determinants.

Physical activity is one of the factors conditioning human health. Research shows a positive impact of regular physical activity on the quality of human life. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the physical activity of university students, their parents, and their grandparents, and the overall quality of their lives in individual domains (physical, mental, social, environmental), as well as the perceived state of health in relation to selected determinants. The research included 1001 participants, including 253 students related to physical culture and health promotion studying at the University of Szczecin (faculties: physical education, tourism and recreation, public health, sports diagnostics), and their 336 parents and 412 grandparents. Purposive sampling was used to outline the determinants of quality of life and family factors in physical activity. The diagnostic survey was carried out based on the standardized WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life) questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were shown in the studied generations regarding the assessment of quality of life and satisfaction with health in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. The oldest generation gave the lowest assessment of quality of life and was the least satisfied with their health regarding particular domains. Female students were more satisfied with their health compared to grandmothers and grandfathers, whereas male students compared to mothers and fathers. Fathers achieved the highest scores in the psychological and social domains, but, in case of the latter, differences were found between mothers’ and fathers’ assessments. Intergenerational differences were found in quality of life and the assessment of health status. Current participation in broadly understood physical culture was often a result of positive attitudes towards physical education and doing sport in the past, which meant higher scores in the physical domain each time. The study demonstrated that taking up physical activity impacted the quality of life and assessment of health in the past and currently.

Addressing alcohol and other drug use among young people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds: Perspectives of service providers in Melbourne, Australia.

Young people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds are recognised as emerging priority populations for reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related harms in Australia. Limited research has investigated how service providers address AOD challenges in migrant communities. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 15 service providers from AOD, migrant support, community and other health services in a diverse region of Melbourne. Interviews explored the challenges that service providers faced and the strategies they implemented to engage with young migrants in relation to AOD use. Thematic analysis was used to generate four themes: stigma as a barrier to service delivery, intergenerational differences between young people and parents, the need for outreach and establishing trust and understanding over time. Service providers believed that stigma prevented many young people from migrant backgrounds having open conversations about their AOD use with family members and professionals. Participants perceived that some parents had less AOD-related knowledge and lower English language proficiency than their children creating challenges for effective communication. Service providers recognised the importance of engaging with young people in settings where they felt comfortable rather than expecting them to approach their service. Participants also acknowledged the need to invest time in establishing trust and understanding with young migrants so they could facilitate conversations about AOD use as relationships evolved. Although service providers had a strong understanding of young people's needs, they found it challenging to build relationships in the context of funding and time constraints. Our results indicate the need for long-term funding and timelines that enable service providers to build strong relationships with young migrants, their families and their broader cultural communities to facilitate access to AOD support.

Baby Boomers' use of Facebook and Instagram: uses and gratifications theory and contextual age indicators

Social media research tends to prioritize how young adults – and college students, in particular – use social network sites. While several studies have focused on how Facebook can help alleviate loneliness among older adults, the motives for using other social media platforms, including Instagram, have not been adequately explored. This study therefore focuses on how a uses and gratifications framework applies to older users of Facebook and Instagram, including the relationship to contextual age. A survey of 414 Baby Boomers and Traditionalists was conducted in the Fall of 2019. The results revealed that older adults rely on Facebook and Instagram to compensate for the lack of social activity and face-to-face interactions in their daily lives. These patterns are consistent with social compensation hypothesis and contradict the findings of studies done with college students. In addition, the older adults' life satisfaction was a negative predictor of using these sites for companionship and diversion. Future research should furthermore explore how other personality traits and social situations might influence older individuals use of social media. This knowledge can be particularly useful in times of health pandemic, such as COVID-19, when so many older individuals are confined to their homes and rely on social media for interaction and entertainment. Insight into intergenerational social media usage differences can also benefit advertisers, policy makers, recreational groups, healthcare and social services.

El Batraa manufacturers for chemicals and paint

Learning outcomes • Develop an understanding of how to institutionalize a family business. • Define the dynamics of the family business decision-making process in emerging markets. • Assess the cultural differences between founders and successors in an emerging markets context. • Identify the role of intergenerational differences in deciding the future strategy of a family business in emerging markets. Case overview/synopsis This case addresses El Batraa Manufacturers for Chemicals and Paints S.A.E., a privately owned family business operating in the coloring paste industry in Egypt. The main dilemma of the case is the existence of different visions about the business between the old and new generations. Also, it addresses the importance of understanding family dynamics to resolve existing challenges. The necessity of having governance in a family business is highlighted, together with a clear succession plan to secure family unity and business sustainability. Sandra the main protagonist within the case is trying to arrive to a resolution that can guarantee a motivating environment for her to join the family business. Her main dilemma is whether to choose to join the family business, with all the existing challenges or not. Accordingly, she proposes some steps to make the family business more appealing. Complexity academic level Under Graduate and Master of Business Administration level. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Immigrants, Crime, and the American Dream: Testing a Segmented Assimilation Theory of Crime.

The immigrant-crime relationship is often misunderstood and highly complex. To date, criminological research has largely ignored theory testing of this relationship. This paper examines the extant literature on intergenerational offending amongst immigrant youth and subsequently tests whether the segmented assimilation theory- a theory borrowed from the interdisciplinary social sciences- adequately explains immigrant offending. The study uses data (N = 1,267) from the Pathways to Desistance Study (PTD) to examine intergenerational differences in changes to offending between immigrant youth and the native-born. The analyses largely reveal that the theory, based on its original assumptions, fails to adequately explain youth offending, and that the models provide more support for the straight-line theory of assimilation in regards to delinquency. Limitations and recommendations are discussed and proffered, respectively.

Individualism and self-reliance of Generations Y and Z and their impact on working environment: An empirical study across 5 European countries

In recent years, numerous researches and studies confirm differences between Generations in their values, attitudes, or characteristics. However, the challenge is to get to know the Generation Z, whose individuals are currently entering the labor market for research and practical application. The presented paper aims to expand the knowledge of Generations Y and Z in the field of individualism and self-reliance. This issue is examined concerning independence regarding housing and financial independence to parental help. The aim of the study is an empirical verification of possible similarities and differences between Generations Y and Z. The study is based on an online questionnaire survey. Data were obtained from more than 1,500 respondents of these Generations (born in 1982–2005) in 5 European countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia). Data are examined using a two-tailed t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and regression analysis. The overall findings of the study indicate intergenerational differences in the issue of independence, with Generation Z, unlike Millennials, becoming more self-sufficient at a younger age. Research has also found that women leave the parental household earlier than men. The paper presents the possible influence of the outputs on the working environment and work motivation of the Generations Y and Z. AcknowledgmentThe paper was created with the support of the project SGS-2020-015 “Research in selected areas of management and marketing of organisations in the context of demographic and technological changes.”

Intergenerational Differences in Age-friendly Environments and Health Outcomes: Social Support as a Mediator

ABSTRACT We examined intergenerational differences in the prevalence of age-friendly environments (AFE), social support, depressive symptoms, and chronic diseases, and the complex associations among those variables in Korean adults. A cross-sectional survey of 1,000 respondents and multi-group structural equation modeling results showed intergenerational differences in the prevalence of AFE, social support, depressive symptoms, and chronic diseases, and complex pathways of the major variables, including the mediating effect of social support. These findings have implications for health professionals in identifying environmental risk factors and implementing effective physical and mental health interventions targeting different age groups among Korean adults.

Intergenerational Differences in Factors Affecting Unmet Health Care Needs in South Korea: Comparison of Middle-aged and Older Adults

ABSTRACT This study analyzed influencing factors of unmet health care needs for both middle-aged and older adults in Korea. Using the 2016–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, a logistic regression analysis was conducted and found that sex, subjective health, and depression affected the unmet health care needs of middle-aged people while sex, subjective health, depression, national health insurance system, and smoking behaviors affected the unmet health care needs of older adults. This study contributes to establishing preventive and continuous policies to address unmet health care needs for both middle-aged and older adults.

The Effect of Social Capital and Family Support on Loneliness among Korean Adults: Intergenerational Differences

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational differences in the associations of social capital attributes (family network, friend network, community cohesion) and perceived family support (instrumental, informational, emotional) with loneliness among Korean adults. Interview data were collected from participants aged 18+ in South Korea during 2017 (Ng= 1,017), classified by three age groups (18–44, 45–64, 65+). In regression models, greater loneliness was associated with smaller friend networks and lower community cohesion for the younger group, lower information support and higher instrumental support for the middle-aged group, and lower informational and emotional support for the older group.

Intergenerational Comparison of Successful Aging Perception, Lifestyle and Self-Esteem

ABSTRACT This study explores the intergenerational differences in successful aging perception between millennials and second wave baby boomers in South Korea. To compare the two generations, a survey with 635 respondents was conducted. There were both differences and similarities in successful aging perception between the two generations even though they are consisted with different lifestyle groups. The most important construct for successful aging for both generations was ‘ease of daily life,’ followed by ‘personal growth’ and ‘social and psychological well-being,’ and the millennials considered ‘personal growth’ as more significant. Respondents with high self-esteem had higher successful aging perception scores.

Exploring Cross Generational COVID-19 Attitudes and Behaviors

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges that have tested the resolve of the world and transformed our daily lives. We sought to capture COVID-related attitudes and behaviors of older adults and relate these to views of adolescents from a national study in the USA. Methods: This mixed-methods online survey accepted responses from adult volunteers, age 55+, from April to July 2020 (N = 223). We used a snowball approach to recruitment initiated in the state of Maine (USA). Results: Older respondents tended to report congruent attitudes concerning COVID-19 risks and associated preventative behaviors. Most reported taking Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance seriously. In contrast, adolescents surveyed in a prior study reported similar adherence, but less concern. Thematic review of open-ended responses highlights key intergenerational similarities and differences. Discussion: COVID-19 has changed day-to-day life in myriad ways. Attitudes vary within and between age groups. Further research could focus on intergenerational differences in motivations underlying behaviors as well as differing needs for public health education and support.

Social adaptation of the younger and older generations of workers in modern Russia

A comparative analysis of the social adaptation of the younger and older generations of workers in modern Russia is undertaken based on the combined RLMS-HSE data set (1994–2019) and the primary data of two studies at a specific industrial enterprise. Intergenerational differences in the effectiveness of social adaptation of two generations of Russian workers during 2006–19 is studied. The younger generation includes workers born in 1985 and later. Their socialization was carried out mainly already in post-Soviet Russia, and the entry into working age took place in the 2000s. The older generation is formed by workers born no later than 1984. To assess the effectiveness of social adaptation of two generations of workers, indicators of satisfaction with work, material situation and life in general is used. The ways of market adjustment, that served as additional sources of income, are considered. Particular attention is paid to the dynamics of the social adaptation of workers in 2014–19, that is, against the background of a decrease in real money incomes of the population. During these years, along with the dynamics of the most important indicators of the social well-being of workers at a particular industrial enterprise in Omsk (the regional center of the Russian Federation), the dynamics of three active ways of their social adaptation (agricultural labor on a land plot, secondary employment, educational activity) are revealed. It has been found that intergenerational differences in the effectiveness of social adaptation of Russian workers are insignificant, and since 2013 there have been no statistically significant differences in job satisfaction and satisfaction with the material situation. In 2015-16 and in 2019, there were also no intergenerational differences in life satisfaction in general. The work shows that the social and economic situation in the country has a predominant impact on the social adaptation of the younger and older generations of workers. Important factors that determine the success of social adaptation are the living conditions at the place of residence (in a settlement of a certain type) and the general situation at the main job.

The value-reflexive attitude of Russians to the Internet (the case of Moscow and the Moscow Region)

Information and communication technologies, the Internet in particular, have a significant impact on all the aspects of social life. Therefore, it is necessary to study the problems, consequences, and scale of such influence in the sphere of different scientific disciplines (sociology, psychology, and cultural studies) as well as in the sphere of interdisciplinary discourse. There is a need for research adequate to the current situation of transition to a new technological mode, a digital society, which actualizes the demand for the formation of a new type of personality, a new elite. The new elite will be the bearers of the socio-cultural code of deep and systemic information processing, the owners of electronic culture on the basis of critical digital literacy and reflexivity. At the same time, specific empirical studies of recent years abroad and in Russia demonstrate the predominance of competences of information and communication technologies user, which is absolutely insufficient in the digital society. This research aims to analyze the value-reflexive attitude of Russians to the Internet based on the results of a specific sociological survey among the residents of Moscow and the Moscow Region, implemented under the guidance and direct participation of the authors of this article during the period of social restrictions imposed by state authorities in connection with the new coronavirus infection from April to November 2020 by online questionnaire. The research tools included a block of questions on the digitalization of the region, including a number of statements showing the value-reflexive attitude of the respondents to the Internet. The results show that the number of respondents, who regard the Internet as one of the modern civilizational values, exceeds the share of respondents who recognize the dangers of Internet addiction. The authors have revealed that an even smaller percentage of those aware of the relationship of Internet addiction and anonymity on the Internet with the destruction of moral and moral systems, the erasure of the boundaries of personal and public space, psychological problems. A significant proportion of those who exhibit dangerous symptoms of alienation from the real, physical and social world was recorded. It was determined that for the majority of respondents, the Internet space has not become a platform of freedom, creative fulfillment, a friendly environment. The article assumes that economic conditions could become the foundation for bringing people together in the Internet space. Intergenerational differences in the value-reflexive attitude to the Internet space are revealed. The authors draw attention to the fact that the elderly, as the bearers of the deep meanings of traditional cultural forms, reflect the risks and dangers of the Internet space to a greater extent than the young people and adults. The authors link the prospects for further research with the sociological monitoring, which will allow studying the dynamics of digitalization processes in the region, the impact of age characteristics of identity on the attitude to the Internet, and the formation of electronic culture.