Research Highlights Benefits of Intergenerational Friendships

Psychologist Danielle Kennedy from the University of the Sunshine Coast conducted research in 2024 focusing on intergenerational friendships, specifically between adults aged 55 and older, and those aged 18 to 35. The study aimed to understand the perspectives within these friendships and their influence on adult development, experiences of loneliness, and social isolation.

Key Research Findings

Kennedy's research indicates that intergenerational friendships contribute to the healthy development and wellbeing of both younger and older adults.

A notable finding was that these connections help to reduce age-based discrimination, or ageism, in both directions, primarily through sustained social interaction and contact.

Diverse Personal Accounts

Several individuals shared their experiences with intergenerational friendships:

• Tia (32): After relocating to coastal communities, Tia developed friendships with people decades older than her, valuing the "wealth of knowledge" they offered.
• Mykel (18): A Wiradjuri, Gamilaroi, and Bigambu man, Mykel described the structured respect for elders in First Nations cultures. He explained that elders provide guidance, and younger individuals assist them, a cultural framework that encourages intergenerational learning and support.
• Zein (18): Reflecting on Syrian and Middle Eastern cultures, Zein noted a rigid structure involving immense respect for older individuals due to their experience, coupled with a sense of responsibility to care for them.
• Audax (17): As an autistic individual, Audax has many friends who are older. He reported that these friendships provided wisdom, stories, and helped him learn about setting boundaries, observing how older friends modeled such behaviors.

Challenging Age Stereotypes and Perceptions

The research suggests that such friendships can help mitigate the "generational rift" often discussed in public discourse. Audax observed that stereotyping can occur in both directions between age groups.

Older individuals frequently experience "subjective age bias," feeling younger than their chronological age. This phenomenon may be increasing, potentially as a mechanism to cope with age discrimination.

Clive (82), an interviewee, stated he feels around 40 or 50 internally and believes intergenerational friendships help him maintain this sense of youthfulness through a mutual exchange of energy.

Fostering Connections

The article emphasizes that friendships often develop through shared activities, common interests, and geographical proximity. This underscores the importance of opportunities for intergenerational contact in fostering these beneficial relationships.