Learning for old age and agingIntergenerational education in a relational perspective

The aging of society significantly influences the increase in generational differences, reinforcing the polarization of intergroup differences in the context of age. Thus, the diversity of experiences between youth/young adults and seniors results in growing difficulties when it comes to reconciliation of their perspectives. As a result, generational conflicts can emerge as a type of dispute intensified during periods of rapid social change.

The project addresses social issues around negative attitudes of youth towards seniors, which result in a generalized negative perception of old age. This is related to the weakening of intergenerational bonds within families (for example, due to urbanization and migration), which means that young people in Poland have fewer opportunities to directly interact with older people in personal relationships.

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Data will be collected using a procedure consisting of four components. A mixed-methods study, will allow us to confront youth’s perceptions concerning aging with the experiences of seniors.

To answer our research questions, we will carry out a qualitative multi-methods study, consisting of individual interviews with youth (Component 1, C1), an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) with seniors (Component 2, C2), and group interviews (Component 3, C3) with adolescents with the use of an elderly sensation simulator.

During the next stage, we will conduct a participatory study (Component 4, C4a), where we will pair young people with seniors, and the research techniques will include workshops and visual examination of the relationships.

By combining visual materials with the analysis of data from different types of interviews in a mixed-methods approach (Creswell 2013), we will be able to not only prepare a description of the phenomenon, but also to demonstrate how "social processes are objectified in material objects" (MacDougall 2005) in intergenerational relationships. In the spirit of the Participatory Action Research (PAR), our research results will be discussed and analyzed jointly with the participating youth and seniors.

A workshop dedicated to discussing experiences from the visual study in pairs will constitute the final part (C4b) of the research. During the joint analysis exercise, we will also create a photo collage consisting of the photos taken by the participating pairs.

The collected data will enable the development of practical tools that can be used to inspire younger generations to think about aging, both in their own lives and in a relational perspective. The data will also help to verify the previous methods of learning for aging.

We will develop an educational program, which will be implemented at the Nowolipie Center for Intergenerational Activity in Warsaw. The program will contribute to expanding the scope of the Center's activities by creating conditions for intergenerational reflection on aging and growing old.

Our research will also shed light on areas burdened by the risk of stereotyping and simplification related to the understanding old age by comparing the experiences of grandchildren and grandparents and tracking similarities and differences. Throughout the project, we will identify platforms conducive to supporting intergenerational practices.