https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4301-2514
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ABSTRACT
This study explores young adults’ emotional affect and attitudes towards ageing, as well as older adults’ emotional affect and self-esteem following participation in the intergenerational videoconferencing programme Smile Connect (SC). The sample consisted of 94 participants (46 older Spanish adults living in a care home in Spain and 48 young Italian adults -secondary students- learning Spanish at school in Italy). Each age group was divided into an intervention and control group. SC consists of twelve 30-minute chat sessions conducted via Skype between the target groups over six weeks. Pre and post evaluations were made to assess the affect level in both groups, self-esteem among older people, and the level of negative stereotypes about ageing among young adults. At the end of the SC, the intervention group of older adults recorded significantly improved scores in self-esteem compared to the control group. Young adults recorded a reduction in their negative stereotypes about old age after taking part in the SC programme compared to those who did not. These findings suggest that involvement in the SC programme helps to improve the emotional affect of older adults living in care homes, as well as change the negative stereotypes about ageing among young adults.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to all participants and centre coordinators for their responsiveness during the study. We would also like to offer special thanks to the heads of Jesán and Usera Nursing Homes (Salamanca, Spain), and to the tutors and teachers from “Francesco Da Collo” secondary school (Conegliano, Italy).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.