Effects of Participating in Intergenerational Programs on the Development of High School Students’ Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the effects of intergenerational programs on high school students’ development of self-efficacy. We used a quasi-experimental ex-post facto design with several follow-ups and conducted a questionnaire survey with 236 high school students. Results showed that the self-efficacy of students who experienced community activities increased over time after the intergenerational programs. Conversely, self-efficacy for students who had not participated in community activities did not change over the three years of the study. Findings indicate that participating in intergenerational programs promotes the development of adolescent self-efficacy through the experience of interaction with different generations in local activities.

KEYWORDS:

• High school students
• intergenerational programs
• longitudinal design
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgments

We would like to use this space to thank Rumi Takeuchi (HIDEKI WADA Psychotherapy Office) for her contribution to the research process.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Unblinded ethics statement

The Research Ethics Committee of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology approved the study. All participants were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time, and written consent was obtained from all participants.

Additional information

Funding

The Daiwa Securities Foundation’s grant funded this study;Daiwa Securities Foundation;