Big and Mini: A Promising Intergenerational Program for Social Connections.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated loneliness among older adults.
• Intergenerational programs offer a potential solution to social isolation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Big and Mini" telephone-based intergenerational program.
• To assess the impact on loneliness, stress, and life satisfaction in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to participants (Bigs and Minis) of the "Big and Mini" program.
• Data collected included stress levels, loneliness, life satisfaction, and intergenerational closeness.
• Descriptive, correlational, and content analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Participants reported medium loneliness, high life satisfaction, and strong intergenerational closeness.
• Half of participants experienced similar stress levels compared to pre-pandemic.
• Key motivations for joining included friendship and coping with loneliness.

Conclusions:

• The "Big and Mini" program demonstrates a promising approach for fostering intergenerational connections.
• The program offers mutual benefits and effectively combats loneliness in older adults.
• Findings provide implications for developing future intergenerational support initiatives.