Development of a New Measure of Intergenerational Contact

Intergenerational relationships are vital for individuals of all ages, with positive outcomes associated with intergenerational contact in both familial and non-familial contexts. To explore the role of intergenerational contact in adult development and evaluate the impact of intergenerational programs, a reliable measure of intergenerational contact (IGC) is essential. This study details a three-phase project aimed at creating and validating a measure of familial and non-familial IGC contact. We first conducted a Delphi review with intergenerational researchers (n = 8) and practitioners (n = 8), followed by three focus groups to gather insights on the measure's content, clarity, and feasibility. We then utilized data from 364 younger adults, 250 middle-aged adults, and 331 older adults to run a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing configural, metric, and scalar invariance for both the familial and non-familial scales across the three age groups. The Delphi review achieved moderate to high consensus on the initial survey draft, with qualitative feedback guiding revisions. Subsequent focus-group insights enhanced the measure's clarity and coverage. Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed an eight-item, two-factor structure reflecting positive and negative intergenerational contact, demonstrating configural and metric invariance for both familial and non-familial subscales. Notably, only the non-familial subscale achieved scalar invariance, providing evidence for the IGC Measure as a valuable tool for assessing intergenerational contact across the adult lifespan, aiding researchers in understanding its significance, and enabling practitioners to evaluate intergenerational programs.