•
Rowe
and Kahn, MDs (1998) conclude that close relationships with others
seem to protect older people from the damaging mental and physical
health effects of stressful life events. This protection ranges
from lower risk of arthritis to less depression. Successful Aging,
Dell Publishing.
•
According to Wren (1991), older adults report that involvement
in intergenerational projects increases self-esteem and satisfaction
with social relationships as well as the learning of new skills
and improved self-worth and health.
•
According to Marx (1980), the more generations interact the greater
the potential for breaking down existing mutual stereotypes and
for changing attitudes and fears associated with being and growing
old.
•
Rogers and Taylor (1997) report that older adults engaged in intergenerational
activities have decreased their sense of loneliness, boredom,
and depression.
•
Kleyman (1990) reports older adults who participated in
intergenerational child care were found to have increased feelings
of self-worth (feelings of being needed and valued) and increased
social contact.
•
According to Hart (1999), helping others contributes to the maintenance
of good health, and can diminish the effect of psychological and
physical diseases and disorders.
•
Manheim (1997) reports that intergenerational projects generate
increased tolerance, comfort and intimacy between generations
and dispel negative stereotypes of aging and old age.
•
According to a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA), one out of three senior citizens does
not have the health literacy skills necessary to understand instructions
for prescriptions, medical forms and doctors’directions
on self-care.
•
Frederickson (1990) reports that “cultivating positive emotions
can intervene in the downward spiral of the negative emotions
of fear, depression, and anger.” This is important because
these emotions can swell into chronic depression, precipitate
suicide, lead to heart disease and cancer, and foster anti-social
behavior such as violence.
•
Diener (2002) has completed extensive cross-cultural studies of
subjective well-being (how people evaluate their lives) and has
found that happy people have stronger immune systems and there
is evidence that they live longer.
The
above studies were compiled by Intergenerational Strategies as
a public service.
