Background

Interventions to support a more “age friendly” world are a key objective set out by the World Health Organization with health and wellbeing benefits being increasingly identified for both young and old. Whilst multiple studies have explored intergenerational engagement between kindergarten aged children and older adults, there is limited collective knowledge of programme design and the potential impact that these programmes have on adolescents engaging with older adults in the nursing home setting.

Objectives

The aims of this systematic review were to: a) examine intergenerational programme development and delivery in the nursing home setting and b) report on the impact of intergenerational engagement on adolescents and older adults.

Design

A systematic mixed studies review of intergenerational programmes targeting adolescents and older adults.

Data source

MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus and ERIC (1995 and 2021) and reference lists were hand-searched.

Review methods

The first author conducted a review of the titles and abstracts based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All authors then reviewed and discussed each paper to determine inclusion. Qualitative appraisal using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool was conducted, and all evidence from the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies was identified and thematically analysed using a convergent qualitative synthesis design.

Results

Ten papers were identified for review (six qualitative studies, two quantitative studies and two mixed methods studies). Inconsistencies in the inclusion criteria for older adults limited opportunities to explore the benefits for people with or without dementia. Few studies described the process of programme design, and there were wide variations in programme delivery. Programmes ranged from six weeks to eight months with a variety of activities and interactions implemented. Engaging in intergenerational programmes resulted in improved wellbeing and perceptions of social inclusion and reduced ageism. No correlations between programme design and impact were identified.

Conclusions

Intergenerational programmes have important socio-emotional benefits for both adolescents and older adults. There is limited understanding of what meaningful intergenerational engagement entails as there is a lack of transparency surrounding the mechanics behind the programmes that are associated to positive change in the literature. In addition, there is currently no evidence of the longitudinal impacts or the broader social implications of these types of interventions. Future research is needed to explore programme design, the longitudinal effects, and the wider impacts of intergenerational programmes at a community and societal level.

Tweetable abstract

Design and impact of intergenerational engagement between adolescents and older adults in the nursing home setting: a systematic review.

中文翻译：

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在疗养院环境中提供代际计划及其对青少年和老年人的影响：一项混合研究系统评价

背景

支持建立一个更加“关爱老人”的世界的干预措施是世界卫生组织设定的一个关键目标，同时越来越多地确定年轻人和老年人的健康和福祉益处。虽然多项研究探讨了幼儿园年龄儿童和老年人之间的代际交往，但对项目设计的集体知识以及这些项目对在疗养院环境中与老年人交往的青少年的潜在影响有限。

目标

本系统评价的目的是：a) 检查疗养院环境中的代际项目开发和实施，以及 b) 报告代际参与对青少年和老年人的影响。

设计

针对青少年和老年人的代际计划的系统混合研究回顾。

数据源

手动搜索 MEDLINE、CINAHL、Embase、PsycINFO、Scopus 和 ERIC（1995 和 2021）以及参考文献列表。

审查方法

第一作者根据纳入和排除标准对标题和摘要进行了审查。然后，所有作者审查并讨论了每篇论文以确定纳入。使用混合方法评估工具进行定性评估，并使用收敛的定性综合设计识别和主题分析来自定量、定性和混合方法研究的所有证据。

结果

确定了十篇论文进行审查（六篇定性研究、两项定量研究和两项混合方法研究）。老年人纳入标准的不一致限制了探索痴呆症患者或非痴呆症患者益处的机会。很少有研究描述项目设计的过程，而且项目交付存在很大差异。计划从六周到八个月不等，实施了各种活动和互动。参与代际计划可以改善福祉和对社会包容的看法，并减少年龄歧视。没有发现项目设计和影响之间的相关性。

结论

代际计划对青少年和老年人都有重要的社会情感益处。由于与文献中的积极变化相关的计划背后的机制缺乏透明度，因此对有意义的代际参与的理解有限。此外，目前没有证据表明这些干预措施的纵向影响或更广泛的社会影响。未来的研究需要探索项目设计、纵向影响以及代际项目在社区和社会层面的更广泛影响。

可推文摘要

养老院环境中青少年和老年人之间代际参与的设计和影响：系统评价。