The Impact of Intergenerational Programs on Youths' Attitudes Toward Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Education, Schooling

Abstract

Study Objectives
As average life expectancy increases the proportion of the population aged 55 and older has steadily increased. The result is that youth have increased interaction with older adults through their family, careers, and daily interactions. Nevertheless, ageism and stereotypes remain a significant barrier to relationships between youth and older adults. Intergenerational programs that promote positive interactions between older adults and youth have been proposed as one way to reduce ageism and stereotypes about older adults (Andreoletti & Howard, 2018).
Intergenerational programs exist throughout the world and hundreds of studies have reported on their effectiveness. Several narrative reviews of the effectiveness of intergenerational programs suggest that they may be beneficial for both youth and older adults (Candedo-Garcia, Garcia-Sanches & Pacheco-Sanz, 2017; Gualano et al., 2018; Lee, Jarrott, & Juckett, 2020; Martins et al., 2019). However, a quantitative meta-analysis is needed in order to identify the size of the effect of intergenerational programs on youths’ attitudes toward older adults.

Research Questions
1. What is the magnitude and direction of the impact of intergenerational programs on youth’s attitudes toward older adults?
2. Does the magnitude or direction of the impact of intergenerational programs on youth’s attitudes toward older adults depend upon the duration of interaction with older adults, the age of the youths, or the country of origin?

Method
Rather than starting from scratch by reviewing thousands of abstracts that would be irrelevant to the study, the researcher began with studies that had been carefully identified as relevant from the abstract screening from four systematic, narrative reviews on the impact of intergenerational programs on psychosocial outcomes (Candedo-Garcia, Garcia-Sanches & Pacheco-Sanz, 2017; Gualano et al., 2018; Lee, Jarrott, & Juckett, 2020; Martins et al., 2019). Ninety-four studies from the four systematic reviews were examined. Studies were excluded if they had no relevant, quantitative data to calculate the effect of intergenerational programs on the attitudes of youth toward older adults. After all studies were screened 23 independent studies will be included in the meta-analysis. See Figure 1.

Data Analysis Plan
In order to test research question 1 an effect size, d, will be calculated by subtracting the after-intervention ageism score from the before-intervention ageism score and dividing by the pooled within-group standard deviation. A random-effects meta-analysis model will be calculated. If significant heterogeneity is found in the studies a meta-regression will be used to test research question 2.

Implications
Hundreds of intergenerational programs exist throughout the world with the goals of improving psychosocial outcomes for both older adults and youth. This meta-analysis provides data to indicate whether these programs might improve youths’ attitudes toward older adults.

Feasibility of Completing Data Analysis Before Presentation
Currently all usable studies have been identified and authors have been contacted to provide any necessary data that was missing from publications. From here data analysis can be completed in a few weeks. Furthermore, I am on sabbatical during the Fall 2020 semester with the goal of learning more about intergenerational programs and completing this meta-analysis.

Group Authors

N/A

Author

• Jenni Petersen, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
  Presenting Author