Bridging Generations: A Narrative Review of Intergenerational Interventions and Their Impact on Well-Being Across the Lifespan

Intergenerational (IG) interventions are increasingly recognized as a strategy to promote holistic well-being across the lifespan. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews and clinical trials published between 2020 and 2025 that examined IG programs involving non-familial participants and reported physical or mental health outcomes. Findings indicate that IG interventions-ranging from physical activities and arts-based programs to technology-assisted mentoring-can improve physical performance, reduce depression, enhance self-esteem, and foster social connectedness. However, results were inconsistent due to heterogeneity in intervention design, outcome measures. Additionally, findings frequently focused on a single generation, with limited reporting of reciprocal benefits across age groups. Despite these gaps, IG programs hold promise for improving physical and mental health. Future research should prioritize standardized assessments, inclusion of both generational perspectives, and scalable models to integrate IG programs into health, education, and community settings.