Bridging older adults and young individuals through a nonfamilial intergenerational programme: Exploring solidarity, attitude change, and community strengthening through a mixed-methods approach
Educational Gerontology, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/03601277.2026.2615377
- Dergi Adı: Educational Gerontology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, AgeLine, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, MLA International Bibliography, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Education Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Kırklareli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Intergenerational programs are increasingly recognized as instruments for fostering social cohesion and active aging, yet few studies in Turkey have examined their reciprocal effects on younger and older participants. This mixed-methods study evaluated an eight-week intergenerational program situated within a third-age university framework, assessing its impact on university students’ and nursing home residents’ attitudes, as well as students’ intergenerational solidarity. Forty-six participants—26 students (mean age 20.62 ± 1.42) and 20 older adults (mean age 76.50 ± 4.59)–were assigned to experimental and control groups. Quantitative measures included Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Older People (KAOP), the Attitude Scale Toward Young People (ASTYP), and the Intergenerational Solidarity Scale (ISS), complemented by semi-structured interviews analyzed through descriptive phenomenology. Results indicate that experimental students experienced significant improvements in KAOP Positive Attitudes, Total Scores, and ISS Normative Solidarity, alongside reductions in KAOP Negative Attitudes and increases in ISS Affectual and Normative Solidarity (p <.05). Older adults in the experimental group demonstrated decreased Negative Attitudes and increased ASTYP Positive Attitudes and Total Scores (p <.05). Findings highlighted enhanced empathy, social awareness, and engagement among students, and improved self-esteem and psychological well-being among older adults. By focusing on nursing home residents in Turkey, this study addresses a critical empirical gap and offers a replicable framework for promoting active aging, intergenerational solidarity, and socially embedded policy interventions, with implications for adult education and family-focused policy design.