Do intergenerational programs that bring together preschool children and the older adult reduce ageism? A scoping review

Abstract

Intergenerational programs are structured initiatives designed to mitigate ageism by facilitating purposeful interactions and shared activities between individuals from different generations. This scoping review aims to map and characterize the evidence related to ageism-related outcomes arising from intergenerational programs involving preschool children and older adults, identifying key definitions and study characteristics. To achieve this, Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage scoping review framework was applied. A systematic literature search was conducted in the Wiley, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis databases for English-language articles published between 2014 and 2024. From an initial pool of 1,599 articles, 24 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for final analysis. The selected articles were systematically charted in an Excel spreadsheet, and the results were compiled, synthesized, summarized, and reported. The Rayyan software facilitated data management, while MAXQDA 2020 was employed for qualitative data analysis. The results indicated that intergenerational programs offer significant benefits for older adults, including preserving intellectual engagement, fostering a sense of social connection, and promoting positive attitudinal shifts. Children also experienced advantages such as reduced shyness and the breakdown of gender stereotypes. These programs were conducted at various frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly, or annually) and incorporated diverse activities such as storytelling, singing, gardening, and crafts. Despite their identified benefits, gaps remain in understanding the long-term impact of different program designs, the challenges in implementation, and the comparative effectiveness of various approaches. These results provide valuable perspectives on the design and implementation of intergenerational programs as a means of combating ageism.

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