Co-Operative Spaces : An ecological perspective examining participation, health, and wellbeing in intergenerational interactions

Background: Young people and older adults are identified as two particularly vulnerable groups experiencing loneliness and associated impacts on health, wellbeing, and healthy ageing. Intergenerational programs are initiatives which enable mutual learning, growth, and experience sharing between two or more generations. Current gaps in intergenerational research highlight a need to examine conceptualisation, measurement, and perceived impacts of intergenerational programs on individual and collective participation, health, and wellbeing outcomes. Aim: This program of research, interchangeably referred to as the ‘Co-Operative Spaces’ project, aimed to identify key barriers, enablers, and the role of facilitation in fostering a coordinated individual-environment-task fit, ultimately informing the design and sustainability of future intergenerational living and learning environments. Methods: Three studies comprised this thesis: a systematic review of systematic reviews, qualitative investigation of youth (12-19 years) and older adult’s (50 years and over) perspectives and experiences, and qualitative exploration of the perspectives and experiences of current and prospective program facilitators. Results: Systematic review findings from 34 identified systematic reviews found no consensus regarding conceptualisation and measurement of health and wellbeing outcomes in intergenerational interactions. Focus groups or interviews with youth (n = 21) and older adults (n = 23) identified perceived and experienced participation, health, and wellbeing outcomes related to social, emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical, environmental and community domains. Key enablers perceived and experienced by youth and older adults that influence development of a coordinated individual-environment-task fit included effective facilitation, shared interests, and intentional co-design. Barriers identified included existing social and cultural segregation, concerns for safety, and challenges integrating shared spaces. Qualitative interviews with current facilitators (n = 3) and focus groups with prospective facilitators (n = 15) identified that facilitators play a critical role in program success through ‘artful facilitation’ and ‘community support’. Facilitators highlighted challenges to sustainability, resource allocation, and stakeholder buy-in, alongside opportunities for co-design and policy integration. Conclusion: This thesis contributes to understanding of conceptualisation and measurement of participation, health, and wellbeing outcomes in intergenerational programs. It presents evidence on barriers and enablers perceived and experienced to influence a coordinated individual-environment-task fit in intergenerational programs involving youth, older adults, and facilitators. The importance of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and community-based participatory action research is emphasised as crucial to the design, implementation and evaluation of intergenerational programs.