Attitudes toward Aging among College Students: Results from an Intergenerational Reminiscence Project

Xu, Ling; Fields, Noelle; Cassidy, Jessica; Daniel, Kathryn; Cipher, Daisha J.; Troutman, Brooke

doi:10.3390/bs13070538

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…We are currently engaged in data cleaning and analysis for both quantitative and qualitative data. One manuscript has already been published [73], and we anticipate publishing several more manuscripts reporting the results within the next 1-2 years.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reminiscence and Digital Storytelling to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Design and a Randomized Controlled Trial

Xu¹,

Fields²,

Daniel³

et al. 2023

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Increasing attention is being given to the growing concerns about social isolation, loneliness, and compromised emotional well-being experienced by young adults and older individuals affected by Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Studies suggest that reminiscence strategies combined with an intergenerational approach may yield significant social and mental health benefits for participants. Experts also recommended the production of a digital life story book as part of reminiscence. Reminiscence is typically implemented by trained professionals (eg, social workers and nurses); however, there has been growing interest in using trained volunteers owing to staffing shortages and the costs associated with reminiscence programs. Objective The proposed study will develop and test how reminiscence offered by trained young adult volunteers using a digital storytelling platform may help older adults with ADRD to improve their social and emotional well-being. Methods The proposed project will conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of the intervention. The older and young adult participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention (reminiscence based) or control groups and then be randomly matched within each group. Data will be collected at baseline before the intervention, in the middle of the intervention, at end of the intervention, and at 3 months after the intervention. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design will be used to take advantage of the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data from surveys will be entered into SPSS and analyzed using covariate-adjusted linear mixed models for repeated measures to compare the intervention and control groups over time on the major outcomes of participants. Conventional content analysis of qualitative interviews will be conducted using data analysis software. Results The project was modified to a telephone-based intervention owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection started in 2020 and ended in 2022. In total, 103 dyads were matched at the beginning of the intervention. Of the 103 dyads, 90 (87.4%) dyads completed the midtest survey and 64 (62.1%) dyads completed the whole intervention and the posttest survey. Although we are still cleaning and finalizing data analyses, the preliminary results from both quantitative and qualitative data showed promising results of this intergenerational reminiscence approach that benefits both the older adults who have cognitive impairments and the young adult participants. Conclusions Intergenerational reminiscence provided by young adult college student offers promising benefits for both the younger and older generations. Future studies may consider scaling up this pilot into a trackable, replicable model that includes more participants with diverse background (eg, public vs private college students and older adults from other agencies) to test the effectiveness of this intervention for older adults with ADRD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05984732; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05984732 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/49752

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reminiscence and Digital Storytelling to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Design and a Randomized Controlled Trial

Xu¹,

Fields²,

Daniel³

et al. 2023

JMIR Res Protoc

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Enhancing quality of life for older adults through university education: a scoping review

Gonçalves Gaia,

Vieira da Silva,

Santos Costa Vieira da Silva

et al. 2024

Educational Gerontology

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Enhancing Intergenerational Connections: Exploring the Benefits for Older Adults and College Students in a Telephonic Reassurance Program

Zorotovich,

Reeder,

Sweeney

et al. 2024

JAL

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Loneliness is well documented as a major, yet preventable, risk factor for well-being among older adults that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of some countries’ older population experience loneliness, which significantly increases risks for dementia, heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, hospitalization, and even hastened death. Utilizing socioemotional selectivity theory, the current study addresses. the inverse relationship between aging and social outlet availability by providing empirical data on the benefits of intergenerational programming. Data from adult–college student dyads who participated in a telephone reassurance program focused on reminiscence guiding were analyzed to determine outcomes of participation. Qualitative analyses revealed the emergence of themes surrounding familial/friendship bonds and self-discovery among adult participants and a rejuvenated appreciation for the little things in life as well as a sense of purpose from meaningful contributions among college student participants. Results are discussed in terms of continued growth and development during late adulthood and professional and personal growth among students. The psychologically and emotionally meaningful nature of quality intergenerational programs provides a platform for the formation of unique relationships to offset fractured social outlets during later life, providing protections against loneliness and work to establish unique relationships between disparate groups who otherwise may never have crossed paths.

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Attitudes toward Aging among College Students: Results from an Intergenerational Reminiscence Project

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

Reminiscence and Digital Storytelling to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Design and a Randomized Controlled Trial

Reminiscence and Digital Storytelling to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Design and a Randomized Controlled Trial

Enhancing quality of life for older adults through university education: a scoping review

Enhancing Intergenerational Connections: Exploring the Benefits for Older Adults and College Students in a Telephonic Reassurance Program

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