The Effect of a Music Therapy Intergenerational Program on Children and Older Adults' Intergenerational Interactions, Cross-Age Attitudes, and Older Adults' Psychosocial Well-Being

Melita J. Belgrave

114 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Music Therapy

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Music Therapy and Health Aging and Gerontology Research Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of participation in a music-based intergenerational music program on cross-age interactions and cross-age attitudes of elementary-age children and older adults, and older adults' psychosocial well-being. Twenty-one children in the 4th grade volunteered to participate in the experimental (n = 12) or control (n = 9) group. Twenty-six older adults from a retirement living facility also volunteered to participate in the experimental (n = 14) or control (n = 12) group. Ten 30-min music sessions occurred in which participants engaged in singing, structured conversation, moving to music, and instrument playing interventions. Data analysis of cross-age interactions revealed that the interventions "structured conversation" and "moving to music" were more effective in eliciting interaction behaviors than the interventions "singing" and "instrument playing." Standardized measures revealed that children's attitudes towards older adults improved, though not significantly so, after participation in the intergenerational program. Results of biweekly post-session questionnaires revealed a decrease in negative descriptions of older adults and an increase in positive descriptions of older adults--suggesting a more positive view towards aging. Results revealed that older adults' attitudes towards children improved significantly after their participation in the intergenerational program. While standardized measures revealed that older adults did not perceive a significant improvement in their psychosocial well-being, their bi-weekly post-session questionnaires showed they perceived increased feelings of usefulness and other personal benefits from the intergenerational interactions. Suggestions for future research, the utility of varied measurement instruments, and implications for practice are discussed.

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References

1985The Satisfaction With Life Scale 1965Society and the Adolescent Self-Image 1961Attitudes toward old people: The development of a scale and an examination of correlates.1993Generativity among young, midlife, and older adults.1986Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality: A Special Partnership 1977Facts on Aging: A Short Quiz 1969A Factor Analysis of Attitudes Toward the Aged 2002Does singing promote well-being?: An empirical study of professional and amateur singers during a singing lesson

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2017The impact of intergenerational programs on children and older adults: a review 2020Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of intergenerational interactions and older adults’ health-related outcomes 2021A systematic review of the impacts of intergenerational engagement on older adults’ cognitive, social, and health outcomes 2017A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Intergenerational Programs

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