CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AMONG CHILDREN AND ELDERLY ADULTS IN INTERGENERATIONAL GROUP WORK

Abstract

Negative attitudes among members of different age groups interfere with intergenerational communication. Changes in intergenerational attitudes in 32 8- to 11-year-old children and 20 elderly adults were investigated using activity groups. Applying the theory of realistic intergroup conflict, we varied the amount of joint activity between groups. In the experimental group, joint activities (e.g., writing stories, making glove puppets, performing a puppet show) were organized by the researcher. In the control group, although there was visual contact among them, the children and elderly participants worked alone. The elderly adults ratings of the participating children became more positive only in the experimental group. However, children's ratings of the elderly participants improved regardless of the experimental condition. Seven weeks after the end of the intervention, only the children s changes in attitudes toward the elderly participants remained significant. Improvements in intergenerational attitudes during group activities were associated with increased frequency of intergenerational contact outside the group.