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Effect of Intergenerational Interaction on Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults: the Role of Students as Active Agents in Promoting Mental and Social Health of Older Adults
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Shahrbanoo Karimi Emamverdikhan *   |
| PhD in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran & PhD in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran |
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Abstract: (41 Views) |
Introduction: Aging is accompanied by various psychological and social challenges, including reduced psychological well-being, feelings of loneliness, and decreased social interactions. In recent years, intergenerational interactions have attracted increasing attention as a novel and cost-effective approach to promoting the mental and social health of older adults. In this context, students, as a dynamic group with substantial social participation capacity, can play an active role in improving the psychological and social status of older adults. The present study aimed to examine the effect of intergenerational interaction on the psychological well-being of older adults and to explain the role of students as active agents in this process.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The study population included older adults aged 60 years and above and their grandchildren (aged 12–15) who attended the Children and Adolescents’ Intellectual Development Center in District 4 of Tehran. The sample consisted of 28 older adults and 28 students, divided into two groups: the intervention group (14 older adults and 14 students) and the control group (14 older adults and 14 students). The intervention group participated in a structured program including educational, social, and dialogue-based activities with active student involvement over eight sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (1989) and the Keyes Social Health Questionnaire (1998) and analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: The results indicated that the intergenerational interaction intervention with active student participation had a statistically significant effect with a moderate to large effect size on the psychological well-being of older adults (F (1,25) =12.86, p<0.001, η²=0.18) and their social health (F (1,25) =10.21, p=0.002, η²=0.15).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that intergenerational interaction with active student participation can be considered an effective and sustainable strategy for enhancing the psychological well-being and social health of older adults. Designing and implementing intergenerational programs within educational systems and elderly care centers can play a significant role in strengthening social cohesion and promoting the mental health of older adults. |
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| Keywords: Intergenerational Interaction, Psychological Well-Being, Older Adults, Students, Social Health |
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Full-Text [PDF 308 kb]
(16 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original research |
Subject:
elderly social issues
Received: 2026/01/28 | Accepted: 2026/03/30 | Published: 2026/03/30
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