The effect of intergenerational programs on the mental health of elderly adults

Yoh Murayama · Hiromi Ohba · Masashi Yasunaga · Kumiko Nonaka · Rumi Takeuchi · Mariko Nishi +4 more

183 citations0/0 files storedAging & Mental Health

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Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving Aging, Health, and Disability Aging and Gerontology Research

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of an intergenerational program on elderly persons' symptoms of depressive mood and in improving their sense of coherence, which is an element for successful coping with stressors. METHOD: We evaluated an intervention research project (Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy [REPRINTS]), in which volunteers >65 years old read picture books to children in a school setting. The intervention group (REPRINTS) was recruited through intensive weekly training seminars for three months. The no-contact control group members were also recreated to participate in health checks and surveys for data collection purposes. Eventually, 26 participants in the intervention group and 54 in the control group were included for data analysis. RESULTS: The age or gender was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA shows a time × group significant interaction effects. Analyses of the simple main effects showed that sense of meaningfulness significantly increased for members of the intervention group at all terms, with no changes in the control group over time. Multiple mediation analysis revealed that participation in the intergenerational program was associated with a sense of manageability which was also significantly related to depressive mood. CONCLUSION: Intergenerational programs could serve as key health promoters among elderly people by decreasing the risk of social isolation and loneliness due to the greater sense of meaningfulness. However, given our limited sample size, generalizability was restricted and studies with larger cohorts are required to further validate our findings.

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References

2026Childhood and Society 2004What is generativity?1991A Japanese translation of the Geriatric Depression Scale 2001Treating depression in old age: the reasons to be positive 2009Children's Attitudes and Classroom Interaction in an Intergenerational Education Program 1999EFFECTS OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM ON THE ATTITUDES OF EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED YOUTH TOWARD THE ELDERLY 2000INTERGENERATING ACTIVITIES AND AGING APPRECIATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 2006[An intergenerational health promotion program involving older adults in urban areas. "Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy (REPRINTS)": first-year experience and short-term effects].

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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 2019Intergenerational programs: What can school-age children and older people expect from them? A systematic review 2019Creating an intergenerational university hub: Engaging older and younger users in the shaping of space and place

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