title: Analysis of intergenerational relationships in adolescent fiction using a contact theory framework.
abstract: Intergenerational relationships and the media influence young persons' attitudes about aging. The authors analyzed 20 contemporary adolescent novels with intergenerational relationships using Allport's (1954) contact theory to assess whether the relationships demonstrated conditions that foster positive attitudinal change toward outgroups. When tenets were met, characters strengthened relationships, demonstrated resilience, and gained insight and respect for the other generation as they cooperated to resolve crises. Adolescent characters' attitudes toward elders often started out negative but tended to improve over the course of the stories. With these findings, educators, librarians, and parents can realistically inform older children's ideas about aging and elders.
authors: Department of Human Development, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. sjarrott@vt.edu
authors: Shannon E
authors: SE
authors: Jarrott
authors: Brandy R
authors: BR
authors: McCann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D035841:Behavioral Research; D002605:Character; D003146:Communications Media; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D013663:Teaching