Direct and extended intergenerational contact and young people's attitudes towards older adults

Abstract

Research suggests that positive intergenerational contact can improve young people's attitudes towards older adults. However, today's age‐segregated society may not provide ample opportunities for positive contact between younger and older adults to occur on a regular basis. In three studies, we investigated whether the positive attitudinal outcomes associated with direct contact might also stem from a more indirect form of intergenerational relationship: extended contact. In Study 1 (N = 70), extended contact was associated with more positive attitudes towards older adults even when controlling for direct intergenerational contact (contact frequency and contact quality). In Study 2 (N = 110), the positive effects of direct and extended contact on young people's age‐related attitudes were mediated by reductions in intergroup anxiety and ageing anxiety. The mediational effects of intergroup anxiety were replicated in Study 3 (N = 95) and ingroup norms additionally emerged as a mediator of the positive effects of extended contact on young people's attitudes towards older adults. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at tackling ageism.

The Positive and Negative Impact of an Intergenerational Digital Technology Education Programme on Younger People’s Perceptions of Older Adults

“…The findings are consistent with research showing that intergenerational contact [29] and intergenerational programmes [27], [10] can have a positive impact on impressions of older people. In the case of the current research, an intergenerational education programme boosted perceptions of older people as being 'warm', thus confirming a commonly held positive age stereotype [24].…”

“…Research shows that intergenerational contact reduces negative attitudes and stereotypes about older adults [29], [30], [31], [32]; including the stereotype that older adults are incompetent [33]. However, it is possible that when the task or context of intergenerational contact highlights or confirms negative old age stereotypes, especially those around dependency or incompetence, this may increase rather than decease stereotypes in this area.…”

Impact of Contact With Grandparents on Children's and Adolescents’ Views on the Elderly

“…However, their article does not provide specific research data except Bousfield and Hutchison's (2010) study, which was performed with older students (16-25 years old) and interrogated their contacts with the elderly in general without probing the grandparents-grandchildren relationships. A positive impact of direct and indirect contacts of young adults with older people on ageism has recently been confirmed by studies performed in the United Kingdom (Drury, Hutchison, & Abrams, 2016).…”

Connected guys: Endorsement of masculine honour predicts more frequent contact with members of criminal organisations

“…However, research on intergroup contact has demonstrated that the quality of the interaction (i.e. positive or negative) with outgroup members is a stronger predictor of attitudes towards the outgroup, compared to frequency (Drury, Hutchison, & Abrams, ).…”