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The influence of intergenerational contact on child care participants' attitudes toward the elderly

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Abstract

It has been demonstrated that children's attitudes toward the elderly are formulated early in life. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intergenerational contact and familiarity with the elderly in a child care setting influences children's attitudes toward older people. The findings suggest that familiarity is more important than contact in terms of its influence on children's attitudes toward photographs of elderly women. Results are discussed in relation to the implications for intergenerational activities in early childhood programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Family Studies, College of Education, University of New Mexico, 87131, Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Rosanne A. Kocarnik & James J. Ponzetti Jr.

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  1. Rosanne A. Kocarnik
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  2. James J. Ponzetti Jr.
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The authors would like to express their appreciation to F. Scott Christopher and Scott Wright for their review of an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Kocarnik, R.A., Ponzetti, J.J. The influence of intergenerational contact on child care participants' attitudes toward the elderly. Child Youth Care Forum 15, 244–250 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01120216

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01120216

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