Attitudes of elderly persons and professionals towards intergenerational exchanges

Abstract

Abstract Objective: to describe and compare the responses of elderly persons and professionals involved in permanent education programs in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using the Intergenerational Exchanges Attitude Scale (IEAS), considering the variables living with children, for the elderly persons, and work with intergenerational groups or only with the elderly, for the professionals. Method: The convenience sample consisted of 148 elderly persons and 52 professionals. The participants responded to the IEAS and a questionnaire to delineate their profile in terms of age, gender and educational level. Comparative analysis, using the Mann-Whitney test, weighted each factor of the IEAS and the averages by items and by factors. Results: Compared to the professionals, the elderly had more negative perceptions of the attitudes of children towards the elderly (p<0.001) and more positive perceptions of the attitudes of the elderly towards children (p<0.001). Elderly persons who did not live with children had more negative perceptions of the interaction between children and the elderly than those who lived with children (p=0.003). Professionals working with intergenerational groups had more positive perceptions of the interaction between children and the elderly than professionals who worked only with older age groups (p=0.015). Conclusion: Intergenerational activities can be an important mediator of attitudes regarding the interaction between children and the elderly, as well as a form of training and professional renewal for those who work or intend to work in intergenerational activities.

Keywords

• Attitude
• Intergenerational Relations
• Children
• Elderly