Big and Mini: A Promising Intergenerational Program for Social Connections

Abstract

Introduction: To help older adults cope with loneliness during COVID-19, a weekly, telephone-based intergenerational program called “Big and Mini” was created in April 2020 to link young and older adults together. As part of an evaluation of Big and Mini, a survey with both close and open-ended questions was sent to participants. Methods: A total of 63 Bigs and 53 Minis completed the survey. Their stress compared to before COVID-19, loneliness, life satisfaction, intergenerational closeness, and satisfaction with the program were measured for participants. Descriptive, bivariate correlation and conventional content analyses were conducted. Results: On average, Bigs and Minis had participated in the program for 3.73 and 3.49 months, respectively. Approximately half of the Bigs (47.6%) and Minis (52.8%) felt the same stress level compared to before COVID-19. A few participants felt “less stressed” compared to before COVID -9 (14.3 and 7.5%, respectively, for Bigs and Minis). All participants reported medium levels of loneliness, high levels of satisfaction with life, satisfaction with the program, and intergenerational closeness. Content analysis suggested that the reasons to join or expectations of the program were friendship, mutually beneficial intergenerational connections, and coping with loneliness. Conclusions: The Big and Mini program offers a promising approach with mutual benefits for participants. Strategies to improve the program and implications for intergenerational programs are presented.

Evaluating Feasibility, Value and Characteristics of an Intergenerational Friendly Telephone Visit Program During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…This analysis provides support for bi-directional benefits and, in some cases, stronger benefits for younger participants, from such programs. Our findings align with recently published intergenerational projects using a similar series of telephone or video calls over a period of 6 -12 weeks ( 16 , 17 ). These programs reported improvement in ageist attitudes among undergraduate participants ( 17 ), and benefits described as intergenerational closeness, friendship, and learning and sharing by both younger and older groups ( 16 ).…”

“…Our findings align with recently published intergenerational projects using a similar series of telephone or video calls over a period of 6 -12 weeks ( 16 , 17 ). These programs reported improvement in ageist attitudes among undergraduate participants ( 17 ), and benefits described as intergenerational closeness, friendship, and learning and sharing by both younger and older groups ( 16 ). In a program involving health professional students interested in gerontology, students described feelings of mutuality and friendship and two-thirds chose to continue their telephone calls after the program concluded ( 12 ).…”

“…During the early pandemic, younger adult volunteers at educational institutions and community organizations across the United States offered telephone and video call outreach programs for older adults in the community ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ). These interventions provide an opportunity for social interactions across generations, though their objectives may vary (e.g., wellness calls, empathic conversations, service-learning experiences or explicitly social or “friendly” visits).…”

Intergenerational engagement with Asian residents in long-term care facilities: a mixed method systematic review

“…This review indicates that the effect does not appear to be dependent on the age of the participants involved in the IE. For example, programs like the “Big and Mini,” created to link young adults with older adults through a custom website for weekly phone calls, illustrated how IE can mitigate risks associated with physical or mental health in later life by expanding older people’s support networks ( 67 ). IE appears to have potential for enhancing social networks and removing barriers to isolation.…”