Lessons Learned From 11 Countries on Programs Promoting Intergenerational Solidarity

Zlotnick, Cheryl; Groenou, Marjolein Broese; Orban, Annamaria; Corrigan, Trudy; Coimbra, Susana; Kirtava, Zviad; Holdsworth, Clare; Comas‐d'Argemir, Dolors; Aliprant, Laura; Gadet, Carole; Pavia, George

Abstract

Objective
The goal of this project was to develop a systematic framework through which interventions promoting intergenerational solidarity in 11 countries could be assessed.

Background
Although intergenerational solidarity—the exchange of material, social, and emotional support and care between family generations—benefits both the country's economic well-being (macro-level) and the individual's physical, mental, and social well-being (micro-level), decreasing intergenerational solidarity is evident in many industrialized countries. Interventions promoting intergenerational solidarity are increasingly being developed, but few are described in the literature. Moreover, no unifying framework describing them exists.

Method
Representatives from 11 countries convened to identify interventions promoting intergenerational solidarity. After several meetings, a unifying framework was created. Representatives selected a convenience sample of programs and abstracted information based on the framework.

Results
The outcome of social well-being was virtually ubiquitous in most programs. Countries appeared to take a broad view of intergenerational solidarity, focusing on interactions among generations, rather than interactions within families.

Discussion and Implications
The framework enabled the systematic abstraction and assessment of programs. Most programs had no standard method of evaluating their outcomes. Longitudinal evaluations would be optimal if we want to identify the best practices in intergenerational solidarity programs.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Sep 2, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Deposit Date: May 31, 2023
• Journal: Family Relations
• Print ISSN: 0197-6664
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-3729
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 670-681
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12482
• Keywords: Social Sciences (miscellaneous); Developmental and Educational Psychology; Education