Which interventions with youths counter ageism toward older adults? Results from a realist review

ABSTRACT

Age-related social biases – ageism – are developed at an early age. Interventions to counter ageism have been identified but little is known about their mechanisms, particularly in children. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of which interventions in youths are most effective, under which circumstances, how, and with what outcomes. Using 46 keywords in 6 databases, a realist review identified 24 studies published between 2000 and 2022 targeting youths under 18. A content analysis of these studies led to the construction of a Context-Mechanisms-Outcomes explanatory model. Contextual facilitators triggering mechanisms for changing stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination were: 1) enhancing knowledge about aging and older adults by providing nuanced information, 2) improving the quality of intergenerational contacts, 3) increasing opportunities to apply previously acquired knowledge in intergenerational interactions, and 4) promoting reflective thinking about experiences with older adults. However, stereotypes and prejudices appeared to be resistant and changes difficult to generalize. Insufficiently advanced cognitive development in children or viewing healthy and socially engaged older adults as unrepresentative of their age group were obstacles that reduced intervention effectiveness. Future studies should explore how advancing age influences interventions as well as the characteristics of older adults involved.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent
• ageism
• child
• education
• explanatory model
• intergenerational relations
• older adults
• review

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Anne-Lou McNeil-Gauthier for her help in selecting the studies and Louise Tremblay for her assistance in extracting data. They also would like to thank Christine Morin, André Tourigny, Sébastien Lord, Sylvain Giroux and Laurie Kirouac, co-researchers on this study. This work was supported by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec ‒ Santé (AUDACE Program; #2020-VIAU-279578) and by the Luc Maurice Foundation. Carine Bétrisey received a postdoctoral scholarship from the Research Centre on Aging and a Mitacs Accelerate fellowship (#IT23325). Mélanie Levasseur is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator (#360880) and a Fonds de Recherche du Québec ‒ Santé Senior Researcher (#298996).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [360880]; Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé [298996]; Mitacs [IT23325].