Assessing the Effectiveness of Intergenerational Virtual Service-Learning Intervention on Loneliness and Ageism: A...

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Gerontology
• Education

Background:

• Service-learning is a recognized intervention for addressing societal challenges.
• Virtual intergenerational programs offer a novel approach to connect different age groups.
• This study investigates the impact of virtual service-learning on participants' well-being and perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of intergenerational virtual service-learning.
• To assess the impact on reducing loneliness among seniors.
• To examine the effect on decreasing ageism in undergraduate students.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post study design was employed.
• Undergraduate students (n=18) were paired with seniors (n=22) for six weeks of weekly virtual interaction (≥30 minutes).
• Standardized scales including the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD) Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale were utilized, alongside researcher-generated Likert-rating scales.

Main Results:

• College students in the service-learning group demonstrated significantly lower ageism scores post-intervention (ASD: t(1, 40) = -2.027, p=0.049; ageism: t(1, 40) = -2.102, p=0.042).
• Seniors reported a significant decrease in loneliness from pre- to post-interaction, measured by both the UCLA Loneliness Scale (t(1, 19) = 2.301, p=0.033) and a one-item scale (t(1, 22) = 2.412, p=0.009).

Conclusions:

• Intergenerational virtual service-learning proves effective in mitigating loneliness and ageism.
• This model offers a scalable solution for social issues.
• Virtual platforms can facilitate meaningful intergenerational connections and positive outcomes.