Intergenerational Research Articles

Promoting intergenerational learning in higher education: participants’ perspectives on co-management and project-based learning

ABSTRACT Intergenerational (IG) practices foster understanding among diverse age groups, enhancing active ageing and social cohesion. Universities, as key stakeholders in lifelong learning, are pivotal in IG initiatives. Hence, this study investigates IG practices, rooted in project-based learning and co-management, in an international collaboration of universities. It explores participants’ views on IG learning experiences, emphasising generational perspectives and institutional situatedness. The research was conducted in 2022/2023 across Central and Eastern European universities, involving 45 participants (25 older learners, 20 students). Focus group interviews were employed, using a hybrid deductive-inductive approach. Results reveal age-related differences in IG learning perceptions: younger participants emphasised self-expression and connections, while older adults reported view changes about younger generations. Project-based collaboration and effective communication were key facilitators. Institutional situatedness was also identified as a relevant perspective. Participants at Mendel University emphasised the social engagement of older adults; at Eötvös Loránd University, the focus was on the choice of topics and roles; while at University of Split, there was an emphasis on fostering creativity and cooperation. The study thus underscores IG learning’s complexity and advocates for inclusive IG practices in universities, leveraging project-based and co-management principles.

Smooth Intergenerational Relationship Building Among Filipino Teachers: A Grounded Theory

The intergenerational diversity of teachers in the school community offers rich resources for professional learning and development. Nonetheless, intergenerational (IG) relationship is essential for teachers to access these social resources. Hence, through a systematic grounded theory design, this study looked into the IG relationship building process among teachers in the Philippine multigenerational basic education schools, based on a contextualized understanding of the teachers’ intergenerational diversity in terms of their age, period, cohort, and professional experiences. Smooth IG Relationship Building Theory eventually emerged from the grounded data that were gathered from 20 multigenerational Filipino teachers. This grounded theory offers five theoretical propositions: (1) Multigenerational teacher community offers a wide range of resources for professional and personal development of teachers, and access to these resources is unlocked by smooth IG relationships; (2) Smooth IG relationships are hindered by generational gaps, seniority, and isolating structures and programs of the schools; (3) IG values are important to ensure that smooth IG relations do not have underlying tensions beyond the surface interactions; (4) The quality of opportunities and strategies influence the nature of relationships that could develop among colleagues; and (5) Development of smooth IG relationships among colleagues is influenced by the school culture, Filipino social relations, gender differences and IG diversity.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGE-PERIOD-COHORT-EXPERIENCE MODEL FOR FILIPINO INTERGENERATIONAL DIVERSITY INQUIRY IN SCHOOLS

The purpose of this study is to develop a model to scrutinize intergenerational (IG) diversity in the workplace in response to current issues in IG diversity studies. These include the ambiguity of the definition of generation as the basis for understanding IG diversity and the overgeneralization of findings that could lead to generational stereotypes. The present study consists of two-phase developmental research. Phase One involved model development based on an integrative literature review. Phase Two focused on the validation of the model in the context of multigenerational colleagues in Philippine basic education schools. An Age-Period-Cohort-Experience (APCE) model was developed to explore IG diversity in the workplace. Validation showed the applicability of the model to obtain a contextualized understanding of IG diversity through the recognition of the overlapping and interrelated effects of age, period, cohort, and work experiences. The APCE model provided a useful lens for scrutinizing the IG diversity of the teachers in the workplace through qualitative research with limitations in terms of their age, period, cohort, and experiences. As such, said descriptions for each generation could only hold true while all four conditions are present. Until a strong basis for analysis is established, the separation of one effect from another will be difficult.

Beneficial effects of an intergenerational exercise intervention on health-related physical and psychosocial outcomes in Swiss preschool children and residential seniors: a clinical trial.

BackgroundIntergenerational exercise possesses the potential to becoming an innovative strategy for promoting physical activity in seniors and children. Although this approach has gained attraction within the last decade, controlled trials on physical and psychosocial effects have not been performed yet.MethodsSixty-eight healthy preschool children (age: 4.9 y (SD 0.7)) and 47 residential seniors (age: 81.7 y (7.1)) participated in this five-armed intervention study. All participants were assigned to either an intergenerational (IG), peer (PG) or a control group (CON). Children were tested on gross motor skills (TGMD-2), jump performance and handgrip strength. Social-emotional skills questionnaires (KOMPIK) were assessed by kindergarten teachers. Seniors performed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), including gait speed. Arterial stiffness parameters were also examined. Questionnaires assessing psychosocial wellbeing were filled in with staff. IG and PG received one comparable exercise session a week lasting 45 minutes for 25-weeks. CON received no intervention. Measurements were performed before and after the intervention.ResultsIn children: IG improved all measured physical parameters. When adjusted for baseline values, large effects were observed in favor of IG compared to CON in TGMD-2 (Cohen’s d=0.78 [0.33;1.24]) and in handgrip strength (d = 1.07 [0.63;1.51]). No relevant differences were found in KOMPIK between groups (−0.38<d≤0.14). In seniors: IG showed moderate to very large improvements in all main physical performance (0.61<d≤2.53) and psychosocial parameters (0.89<d≤1.20) compared to CON.ConclusionIG children showed large benefits in motor skills compared to CON while IG seniors benefit especially in psychosocial wellbeing and functional mobility necessary for everyday life. Intergenerational exercise is comparable and in certain dimensions superior to peer group exercise and a promising strategy to integratively improve mental health as well as physical fitness in preschool children and residential seniors.

Implementing Intergenerational Best Practices in Community-Based Settings: A Preliminary Study.

Evidence-based intergenerational (IG) programs bring youth and older adults together in shared activities and promote socioemotional health across age-groups. The core components of these IG programs include 14 IG "best practices" that should be implemented during IG program sessions to optimize program effectiveness for both youth and older adult participants. Despite the proliferation of IG programs across the United States, it is unclear the extent to which these IG best practices have been implemented in the community. This preliminary study assesses the implementation of IG best practices at two community-based sites by program leaders who participated in a multifaceted professional education intervention for IG best practice use. Implementation of best practices was measured through the Best Practices Checklist completed by program leaders and trained coders as well as through narrative written comments. Program leaders indicated that they were able to consistently implement six out of the 14 IG best practices in 46 IG sessions, whereas the best practice named "Adaptations to equipment were made" was least likely to be implemented. Analysis of narrative comments indicated that (a) the group arrangement of participants and (b) program leaders' familiarity with activities also influenced implementation. While many IG best practices can be implemented in the community, some best practices can be implemented with greater ease and consistency. Training resources can support IG best practice implementation; however, our multifaceted professional education intervention may benefit from the addition of case examples or vignettes to depict potential strategies for optimizing evidence-based IG practices.

Get WISE (Wellness through Intergenerational Social Engagement): An Intergenerational Summer Program for Children and Long-term Care Residents

ABSTRACT A diverse intergenerational (IG) program, the Get WISE program, was implemented at a long-term care facility with a nearby childcare center and a local university. Pre-post measures from the children regarding perceptions of older adults, and from the long-term care residents regarding their self-rated health, depressive symptoms, and perceptions of resident-youth interactions were collected. Significant improvements were observed in perceptions of resident-youth interactions. Children’s responses expanded from stereotypes of physical aging to positive temperaments and activities of older adults. IG programs can improve the quality of relationships between participants and have cognitive, health, and quality of life benefits.

Let’s make a movie: an intergenerational activity with older people and adolescents in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Intergenerational (IG) activities aim at building bridges and mutual understanding among generations (Dow et al., 2016). IG activities may contribute to regain common spaces among generations outsi...

Intergenerational marijuana use: A life course examination of the relationship between parental trajectories of marijuana use and the onset of marijuana use by offspring.

Prior research documents intergenerational (IG) continuity in marijuana use, with most work adopting a life course perspective. Incorporating a methodology that allows for the measurement of "patterns of behavior" instead of singular aspects of parent marijuana use (e.g., age of onset or frequency at any one age or ages), we investigated the simultaneous effects of parental age of onset, frequency, and duration of marijuana use across 3 periods of the life course (i.e., adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood) on the timing of first marijuana use among offspring. Using prospective data from 2 companion studies, the Rochester Youth Development Study and the Rochester Intergenerational Study, we used group-based trajectory models to estimate trajectories (or patterns) of parental marijuana use spanning ages 14 to 31 among a birth cohort of 462 parents. We then examined the relationship between parental trajectories of marijuana use and the timing of the onset of marijuana use through age 25 among firstborn offspring. Both late-onset persistent use by parents and increasing chronic use spanning adolescence to adulthood by parents were associated with an increased likelihood of onset of marijuana use among offspring. The results underscore the importance of patterns of marijuana use for IG continuity in contrast to singular measures (e.g., age of onset among parents), which can obfuscate important IG patterns of continuity. Prevention and intervention programs should consider the entire history of parent use to better identify children most at risk for the onset of marijuana use in adolescence and emerging adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A Cross-cultural, Intergenerational Activity: “Experience, Learn and Have Fun… Learning Journey”

ABSTRACTIntergenerational study tourism (IST) is a conceptual model designed to promote cross-cultural, intergenerational (IG) encounters through travel and learning. IST is an area of IG practice that would benefit from further research. In response to this identified need, this paper documents a pilot effort to develop a model that includes the design of a cross-cultural, intergenerational activity and examines its perceived benefits, reflection and discussion. Participants in this pilot project represented different generations from local and international communities. To facilitate participant engagement, ice-breaking games and mission-oriented interventions were employed.

INCREASING THE POWER OF INTERGENERATIONAL NETWORKS: ADVANCING A NEW EVALUATION TOOL

According to a 2018 national survey of intergenerational (IG) care providers, practitioners identified as their number one concern a need for evidence-informed evaluation tools to demonstrate their impact on older and younger participants. The Best Practices Checklist is a 14-item (yes/no) measure grounded in evidence of effective intergenerational strategies. Trained evaluators complete the checklist based on their observations of facilitators’ behaviors during IG activities. Exploratory factor analysis (promax rotation) of the Checklist for 132 IG activities offers insight to factor structure and item construction. An adequate two-factor structure was achieved; seven Checklist items were retained with factor loadings greater than .39. Seven items were deleted due to non-variance, high missing data, or double loading across factors. Factors reflect dimensions of: (a) person-centered strategies (e.g. selecting activities based on participants’ interests) and (b) creating a positive physical environment (e.g., grouping participants into intergenerational pairs or small groups). Findings indicate that a Best Practices Checklist with fewer items may offer a suitable tool for assessing the utilization of Best Practices during IG activities. Given the demand for IG evaluation tools, the 7-item BP Checklist can be a brief, easy-to-use measure that documents IG facilitators’ implementation of evidence-informed practices. Its use could be especially helpful if connected to varied indicators of program effectiveness and participant outcomes.

Generativity: Establishing and Nurturing the Next Generation

ABSTRACTOngoing engagement with society and having a supportive environment are important protective factors for our mental wellbeing. Through meaningful engagement with children, seniors feel valued, empowered, and have a renewed sense of purpose. This is a health-romoting measure in enhancing and maintaining senior’s functional abilities and wellbeing. To support an ongoing engagement, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Health’s Silver Circle Senior Care Centre (SCC) and a co-located childcare (My First Skool) in Singapore jointly developed and piloted an intergenerational (IG) collaboration programme. This paper describes the development, interventions and lessons learned from a senior care perspective.

Unpacking intergenerational (IG) programs for policy implications: A systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACTIntergenerational care is a program where both the younger and older generations are receiving programmed care in an environment where activities and resources are shared between them. Anecdotally, an intergenerational care program takes on many forms. This paper presents a systematic literature review of intergenerational care models. Our findings are relevant to policy makers as the paper highlights the opportunities to create an age-friendly environment by introducing intergenerational models in Australia, where intergenerational care development is in its infancy. Future research will help articulate the personal, social, and economic value of intergenerational care.

A Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of the Impact of an Intergenerational Program on Children’s Biases Toward Older Adults

ABSTRACTAgeism refers to the negative bias that targets people of a particular age demographic, typically those in late adulthood. Intergenerational (IG) programs, designed to offset the development of ageism in children, can be beneficial and may improve children’s views of aging. In the current study, an IG program is evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Results indicated that when measured implicitly, but not explicitly, children reveal negative biases against older adults. However, with the exception of a self-assessment of their knowledge of and contact with older family members, there were no significant differences before and after the IG program.

Intergenerational Explorations: Where Everyone Has a Purpose

The goal of the purposeful intergenerational (IG) program is to enhance older adults’ self-efficacy, or feeling of accomplishment, by facilitating their ability to share their knowledge with younge...

Intergenerational appeal in advertising: impacts of brand–gender extension and brand history

An intergenerational (IG) appeal in an advertising campaign usually presents a nostalgic image with family portraits, emphasizing the traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation or harkening back to the ‘good old days’ between father and son, or mother and daughter. The IG appeal can effectively enhance a brand's image and induce that all-important consumer purchase. This paper takes gender differences (father/son or mother/daughter) into consideration while examining two moderators related to branding: (in)congruent brand–gender extension and brand history. Results indicate that a well-established brand history enhances the effects of the IG appeal. In addition, a congruent brand–gender extension increases the effects of the IG appeal. More interestingly, IG appeals can be effective in presenting a less established brand which has an incongruent brand–gender extension.

Influences of two modes of intergenerational communication on brand equity

Intergenerational (IG) communication within a family is an important source of brand equity. This study investigates how IG communication influences brand equity through multiple mechanisms. A careful examination of the nature and process of IG communication reveals two distinctive modes of IG influences — IG conversation and IG recommendation. Evidence from a large scale empirical study using structural equation modeling shows that these two modes of IG communication differentially impact brand equity through contrasting mechanisms. Managerial implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Prevalence and risk factors for inter-generational Sex: a cross-sectional cluster survey of Barbadian females aged 15–19

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and risk factors for intergenerational (IG)-sex in females aged 15–19 residing in Barbados.MethodsThis cross sectional cluster survey was conducted in a 2.6% national sample in the age range (n = 261) recruited from multiple polling districts chosen with a probability proportional to size. Consent was obtained from participants aged ≥18 years or from parents/guardians of participants <18 years, with participant assent. The prevalence of age at first sex was analyzed using a life table approach and risk factors for IG sex (defined as sexual relations with a male 10 or more years older) were analyzed by logistic regression, adjusting for age.Results51.0% of adolescent females in the survey reported ever having had sex, among whom prevalence of IG-sex was 13.2% (95% CI: 6.7-19.8) at first sex, 29.0% (22.3-35.7) within the preceding twelve months, and 34.8% (24.3-45.4) ever. Condom use at first sex was positively related to willingness to have sex (F statistic = 9.8, p = 0.001). The strongest determinant for IG-sex was age of sexual debut (age adjusted Odds Ratio [95% CI]: 0.58[0.41-0.83]), followed by money or gifts received from the partner (2.91[1.17-7.23] and self-esteem (0.33[0.11-0.95]).ConclusionsThe survey establishes a high rate of IG-sex in Barbados, a ‘high income’ country. Most insightful is that risk of IG-sex nearly halved for every year at which first sex was delayed. A high proportion of coerced sex was reported at first sexual experience and this was linked to poor condom use. Affirmative prevention approaches are recommended to boost self-acclamation of adolescent women within less coercive relationships, especially during their first sexual encounter.

Intergenerational science programming: A catalyst for motivation in older adults

The purpose of this study was to determine if increased use of science processing skills would in turn increase motivation in older adults. There were three complimentary curricular topics that informed this project: intergenerational (IG) programming, natural motivation, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum. For this study, a facilitator in-service intervention was developed to specifically focus on STEM practices in IG programming. Overall, increasing use of science processing skills in the context of an IG program engaged certain natural motivators in older adults. Following the training, the same older adult participants experienced improved life satisfaction with trends in decreasing depression. Increased use of communication-related science processing skills is an effective method to improve well-being among older adults with dementia.

Multimodal communication and identities options in an intergenerational art class

This case study of multimodal pedagogies within an intergenerational (IG) art class addresses questions about the learning opportunities that were created therein and what the fixing of participants’ ideas within a semiotic chain said about their facility with communicative modes and media, interests, and identity options. Key findings include: when compared to the adults’ work, the children’s use of media was more elaborate, experimental, and less inhibited and their designs more complex; the content of the children’s communication was multifaceted, and future-looking while some of the adults’ were constrained by limited identity options related to their position in the life course; and the class’s multimodal pedagogies provided occasion for the exploration of modes and media with support for working through key communicational decisions.

Intergenerational Music Making

Three older Australians’ active engagement in music making with children was examined in this phenomenological study. Intergenerational music engagement was explored, focusing on the perspectives of the older Australians engaged in these musical interactions and, in particular, perceived benefits in being part of these musical interactions. Data were gathered through a series of open-ended, one-on-one interviews. Analysis of the data revealed five key themes about intergenerational (IG) music engagement: (1) IG music experiences promoted social engagement; (2) IG music experiences fostered the development of positive attitudes about young people; (3) choice in music making was valued in the IG music experiences; (4) involvement in IG music experiences resulted in the older Australians feeling valued and respected; and (5) there was the perception of reciprocity in the learning that occurred in the IG music experiences. Implications of intergenerational music engagement for music education are discussed.