Intergenerational programming: attitudes of children and perceptions of older adult participants

The purpose of this study was to extend the intergenerational research by examining children's attitudes toward older adults and older adults' perceptions of children following participation in intergenerational programs. The connection between children's attitudes toward the elderly and the characteristics and perceptions of older adults in intergenerational programs appears to be overlooked in the intergenerational literature. The question arises whether intergenerational contact within long-term care facilities can result in childrens' positive attitudes toward the elderly when participants in nursing homes tend to fulfill the negative physical and behavioral stereotypes that perpetuate negative attitudes toward the elderly. Thirty-six, elementary students and twenty elderly institutionalized residents participated bi-weekly in two programs: (a) a general program with residents in a main facility, and (b) a dementia program with residents in a dementia unit. Students completed the modified Analysis of Attitudes of Students for the purpose of deductively examining the relationships between the variables of gender, program affiliation, and number of years of participation. Statistical analyses identified that: (a) there was no significant difference in attitude between students in the general and dementia programs, (b) there was no significant difference in attitude between male and female students, and (c) students participating for two years demonstrated a significantly more positive attitude than did those participating for one year. Students in both the general and dementia programs provided more positive than negative responses when they were asked what they liked and did not like about the programs. Residents in the general program were interviewed using the modified Older Adult Interview for the purpose of deductively exploring the perceptions of the residents toward the children and the program. Residents in the general program provided more positive responses than either negative or neutral responses in reference to the program and the children. In the general program, both the residents and the students identified many aspects of the program that they liked and only a few aspects they disliked.