p ublic health promotion & g enerational i ntelligence university of eastern finland...
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PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTION&
GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
University of Eastern Finland
National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia
Irja Haapala, PhD Nutrition, Teacher Cert
Reg Public Health Nutr, Reg Clinical Nutr
GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE A theoretical model to help establish good
intergenerational (working) relations.(Biggs S, Haapala I, Lowenstein A. 2011. Exploring generational intelligence as a model for examining the process of intergenerational relationships Ageing & Society 31: 1107-1124. Published online: 15 November 2010)
DIMENSIONS OF GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Relative ability to put yourself in the position of other generations.
The degree to which one becomes conscious of self as part of a generation.
Relative ability to negotiate between generational positions.
RURAL YOUTH ASSOCIATION: 4H FINLAND
4H (Rural Youth Association) offers short training in senior service to 14-23 y old youth.
4H is the biggest youth organization in Finland
>79 000 members 250 associations
supported by 14 district offices
http://www.4h.fi/in_english/
4H SENIOR SERVICE TRAINING About 40 h Basics about aged care and
work life in general e.g., human life cycle, nutrition,
memory problems, sensory impairment, accident prevention, emergencies, spirituality, interaction skills, and customer service. Visit to a care home.
And some cooking & cleaning but as these are taught in Home Economics in 7th grade, it is not emphasised.
14,000 youth were trained by 2012.
AIMS To study the extent to which generational
intelligence is applied in the interactions taking place in rural youth senior service.
To find out what were the participants’MotivatorsPerceptions and preconceptionsGains from and satisfaction with the
interaction.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS Area with active take-up of 4H senior service. 4 younger people (16-23 y girls); 5 older adults (81-
88 y; 3 women, 2 men). Qualitative data collected in June 2010 in a rural
town in Eastern Finland. Semi-structured interviews. Content analysis using the Generational
Intelligence theoretical model by Biggs & Lowenstein. (Biggs S, Haapala I, Lowenstein A. 2011. Exploring generational intelligence as a model for examining the process of intergenerational relationships Ageing & Society 31: 1107-1124.)
RESULTS
Motivators for participation in senior service:Ideological and instrumental motives among
youth: the value of helping outearning moneyfollowing peer exampleconsidering a career in this field.
Motivators for participation in senior service Seniors sought help with the heavier chores… due to loss of personal competence or for the
loss of spouse as a “helper with the heavier chores”
Perceptions of own generational needs/priorities
Priorities for youth: Future oriented thinking Parental family, friends, career choice, free time Appreciation for work
”...when there isn’t much of it on offer for all of us” (23 y)
Priorities for older adults: Thinking in the present Personal health, going out (for coffee etc),
participation in (cultural) activities, contacts with peers, peer support.
”All I need to do is go out to sit down in that swing-seat, and that’s where we joke about” (84 y, male)
Preconceptions of the other generation
Held by youth: older adults may have poor functional capacity or
physical health are demanding customers can be difficult to interact with changing moods like children have a different world-view.
Held by older adults: the youths lack practical skills and need teaching; they lack the motivation to work.
Perceptions of the generational differences
The young people saw differences in: Attitudes towards the amount of physical work. Growing up in ”different times”.
The older adults saw differences in: Consumer behaviour Family values; the young resist friendly advice. Attitude to the enjoyment of life
(Joyful happiness vs. Contenment)
Opinions about the interaction:
Youth: Interaction was mostly about cleaning the house, but other social interaction seemed important as well. ”The older person always hangs around to chat.”
Problems: Some lacked boundaries.
Older adults: Quality of work varied, but this was not too important; sometimes the young were not quite sure if they wished to do this or lacked motivation, and sometimes the communication was a bit difficult” ...this one girl is such a quiet one; it is difficult to get contact with her. I wonder if this is about young ones finding it difficult to talk with the oldies. Perhaps the gap is too wide. (88 y, female)
Gains from the interaction
Youth: Social interaction, development of practical skills
in everyday living, feeling of being needed and useful, learning from older people’s life experience.
”...and when they give me praise, it really makes me feel good. (19 y)
Gains from the interaction
Older adults: Got help with cleaning, offered a work
opportunity for the young ones, helped the young learn and develop their skills to manage everyday living, got contact with other people.
”...the home stays tidy and it is good to get contact with other people... (84 y, male)
GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (GI)?
Generational intelligence mediated the challenges of interaction across age-groups.
Perhaps more strongly so for the younger ones.
This consisted of:1. recognising and valuing generational
differences2. finding common ground3. gaining social and
practical outcomes
FOR FUTURE PROJECTS
The GI model can be used to help prepare both parties for the interaction to evaluate the process and outcomes.
DIMENSIONS OF GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Relative ability to put yourself in the position of other generations.
The degree to which one becomes conscious of self as part of a generation.
Relative ability to negotiate between generational positions.
THE GRAND-PAIRING PILOT STUDY
To test the feasibility of a 75+ preventive, social inclusion strategy involving SMEs.
METHODS
A qualitative pilot study An 83 year-old woman with progressive loss of eye-
sight, in London Two 15-year-old girls from Eastern Finland, one at a
time. Parental and informed consent were obtained. 2-3 week work experience – changed to 1 -2 weeks Travel expenses and upkeep paid by older person Own room, access to Internet and private mobile
phone. Pre and post semi-structured interviews. Perceptions, expectations, and opinions examined.
GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (GI)?
…or the lack of it - due to lack of training and exposure
Adolescents’ Short training with advisory booklets A support-family to live near-by Activities to elicit communication before (via letters)
and during the work experience week Free-time activities with other adolescents Would recommend it to peers pursuing a career in
elder care or those really willing to help older people
Older person “I can recommend it to others.” “Might require good educational background.” ”How to cope with a less-mature adolescent?”
...SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE PRACTICE
CONCLUSIONS
Worth developing further. The GI-model in ”pre-grand-pair training”
could promote generationally aware encounters and successful participation in the project.
FOR THE DISCUSSION, 10 MINUTES TIME
1. How could the Generational Intelligence model help you with your intergenerational projects?
