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The Benefits of Intergenerational Wisdom-Sharing: A Randomized Controlled Study

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  • Karl Pillemer

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Julia Nolte

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Leslie Schultz

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Harry Yau

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Charles R. Henderson

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Marie Tillema Cope

    (College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Barbara Baschiera

    (Dipartimento di Filosofia e Beni Culturali, Università Ca’ Foscari, Dorsoduro 3246, 30123 Venice, Italy)

Abstract

Adolescents’ opportunities to benefit from the life wisdom of older persons are very limited. To address this issue, we designed and tested the Building a Community Legacy Together (BCLT) program based on research on the benefits of older people’s wisdom for youth development. In the intervention, the youth participants were trained prior to conducting interviews with older persons regarding their advice for living. The youth participants analyzed the information obtained and presented a summary report to the community. The participants were 93 middle and high school youth who were randomly assigned to the treatment condition with the BCLT program ( n = 47) or to the control condition ( n = 46). The outcome measures included sense of purpose, self-esteem, attitudes toward older people, confidence interacting with older people, and interest in working with older people. Quantitative and qualitative data were also collected regarding the subjective assessments of the program’s success. We found significant positive effects for the BCLT participants regarding their sense of purpose in life, attitudes toward older people, comfort interacting with older people, and interest in working with older people. The subjective assessments of the participants were overwhelmingly positive. The findings indicate that BCLT had positive effects for the youth participants and support the further development and testing of wisdom-sharing intergenerational programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Pillemer & Julia Nolte & Leslie Schultz & Harry Yau & Charles R. Henderson & Marie Tillema Cope & Barbara Baschiera, 2022. "The Benefits of Intergenerational Wisdom-Sharing: A Randomized Controlled Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4010-:d:781361
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sheung-Tak Cheng, 2009. "Generativity in Later Life: Perceived Respect From Younger Generations as a Determinant of Goal Disengagement and Psychological Well-being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(1), pages 45-54.
    2. de Souza, Elza Maria & Grundy, Emily, 2007. "Intergenerational interaction, social capital and health: Results from a randomised controlled trial in Brazil," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(7), pages 1397-1409, October.
    3. Caroline Giraudeau & Nathalie Bailly, 2019. "Intergenerational programs: What can school-age children and older people expect from them? A systematic review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 363-376, September.
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