REPRINTS: Effects of an Intergenerational Health Promotion Program for Older Adults in Japan

In the volunteer reading study, the quantity of and amount of contact with friends or neighbours did not change, but the level of social support received from them reduced and the level of social support provided by participants increased.

“While the quantity of and amount of contact with friends or neighbours did not change, the level of social support received from them reduced and the level of social support provided by participants increased.”

In the volunteer reading study, follow-up assessments at 21 months were restricted to volunteers (37/67) participating in more than a few sessions every month, and to two outcomes of self-rated health and frequency of communication with children contacted through volunteer activities.

“Follow-up assessments at 21 months were restricted to volunteers (37/67) participating in “more than a few sessions every month”, and to two outcomes of self-rated health and frequency of communication with children contacted through volunteer activities.”

Community-dwelling older people who volunteered to read books to school children reported increased frequency of communication with children contacted through volunteer activities at nine months.

“Community-dwelling older people who volunteered to read books to school children [74] unsurprisingly reported increased frequency of communication with children contacted through volunteer activities at nine months.”

Participants in the volunteer reading study also reported increased contact with grandchildren and distant friends, and improved self-rated health compared with controls.

“Participants also reported increased contact with grandchildren and distant friends, and improved self-rated health compared with controls.”

In the volunteer reading study, significant between-group differences favouring the intervention were observed for self-rated health and frequency of communication with children at 21 months.

“Significant between-group differences favouring the intervention were observed for both outcomes, but these must be interpreted with caution due to the selective nature of participants followed up.”

In the volunteer reading study, no intervention effect was reported regarding level of support received from or provided to family members.

“No intervention effect was reported regarding level of support received from or provided to family members.”

The 21-month between-group differences in self-rated health and communication with children favouring the intervention should be interpreted cautiously because follow-up was restricted to a selective subgroup of volunteers.

“Significant between-group differences favouring the intervention were observed for both outcomes, but these must be interpreted with caution due to the selective nature of participants followed up.”

Six studies provided limited information about the background of personnel delivering the intervention, three of which (75%) reported positive treatment effects.

“Six studies provided limited information about the background of personnel delivering the intervention (e.g. female leader, professional, trained interviewer), three of which (75%) reported positive treatment effects [55,68,74].”

Six out of seven (86%) activity interventions had at least one beneficial effect across the three domains of social, mental and physical health.

“six out of the seven (86%) activity interventions had at least one beneficial effect across the three domains of social, mental and physical health [13,60,67,70,74,81].”