Changes in attitudes among children and elderly adults in intergenerational group work

Negative attitudes among members of different age groups interfere with int ergenerational communication. Changes in intergenerational attitudes in 32 8- to 11-year-old child, en and 20 elderly adults were investigated using a ctivity groups. Applying the theory of realistic intergroup conflict, we va ried the amount of joint activity between groups. In the experimental group , joint activities (e.g., writing stories, making glove puppets, performing a puppet show) were organized by the researcher. lit the control group, al though there was visual contact among them, the children and elderly partic ipants worked alone. The elderly adults' ratings of the participating child ren became more positive only in the experimental group. However, children' s ro:tings of the elderly participants improved regardless of the experimen tal condition. Seven weeks after the end of the intervention, only the chil dren's changes in attitudes toward the elderly participants remained signif icant. Improvements in intergenerational attitudes during group activities were associated with increased frequency of intergenerational contact outsi de the group.