The complement of research and theory in practice: contact theory at work in nonfamilial intergenerational programs.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed whether a shared site intergenerational care program informed by contact theory contributed to more desirable social behaviors of elders and children during intergenerational programming than a center with a more traditional programming approach that lacks some or all of the contact theory tenets.


METHODS
We observed 59 elder and child participants from the two sites during intergenerational activities. Using the Intergenerational Observation Scale, we coded participants' predominant behavior in 15-s intervals through each activity's duration. We then calculated for each individual the percentage of time frames each behavior code was predominant.


RESULTS
Participants at the theory-based program demonstrated higher rates of intergenerational interaction, higher rates of solitary behavior, and lower rates of watching than at the traditional program.


CONCLUSIONS
Contact theory tenets were optimized when coupled with evidence-based practices. Intergenerational programs with stakeholder support that promotes equal group status, cooperation toward a common goal, and mechanisms of friendship among participants can achieve important objectives for elder and child participants in care settings.
Jarrott
Shannon E
SE
Department of Human Development 0416, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. sjarrott@vt.edu
Smith
Cynthia L
CL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation