Effects of direct and indirect intergenerational contacts on young people's attitude and prosocial behaviour towards older people

Abstract

Background: Direct intergenerational contact promotes positive attitudes of young people toward older people and thereby reducing ageism. This study aimed to examine: (1) the association between attitude, prosocial intention, and prosocial behaviour toward older people, (2) factors contributing to the quality of intergenerational contact, and (3) the respective roles of face-to-face, extended, and vicarious intergenerational contact in influencing young people's attitudes and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 467 young people in Hong Kong. They were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their direct and indirect intergenerational experiences as well as attitude and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Results: Young people in Hong Kong reported positive attitude, prosocial intention, and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Participants who perceived higher levels of equal status in face-to-face intergenerational contact and had more phone contact with older people they knew were more likely to report higher quality of face-to-face contact with older people. Face-to-face intergenerational contact quality had the strongest contribution to attitude toward older people, followed by vicarious intergenerational contact and female gender. The strengths of direct and indirect contact relationships differed in people having higher and lower levels of face-to-face contact frequency. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of synergistic efforts to respond to ageism; government, schools, private settings, community groups, and media all have a part to play. Policymakers and organisations of different sectors should join efforts to formulate new and innovative policies and to implement practices at family, institutional, and societal levels to achieve intergenerational integration.

Background: Direct intergenerational contact promotes positive attitudes of young people toward older people and thereby reducing ageism. This study aimed to examine: (1) the association between attitude, prosocial intention, and prosocial behaviour toward older people, (2) factors contributing to the quality of intergenerational contact, and (3) the respective roles of face-to-face, extended, and vicarious intergenerational contact in influencing young people's attitudes and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 467 young people in Hong Kong. They were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their direct and indirect intergenerational experiences as well as attitude and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Results: Young people in Hong Kong reported positive attitude, prosocial intention, and prosocial behaviour toward older people. Participants who perceived higher levels of equal status in face-to-face intergenerational contact and had more phone contact with older people they knew were more likely to report higher quality of face-to-face contact with older people. Face-to-face intergenerational contact quality had the strongest contribution to attitude toward older people, followed by vicarious intergenerational contact and female gender. The strengths of direct and indirect contact relationships differed in people having higher and lower levels of face-to-face contact frequency. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of synergistic efforts to respond to ageism; government, schools, private settings, community groups, and media all have a part to play. Policymakers and organisations of different sectors should join efforts to formulate new and innovative policies and to implement practices at family, institutional, and societal levels to achieve intergenerational integration.