Intergenerational Board Games Among Older Adults and School-Aged Children, Through the Lens of Shared Pro-Social Behaviors and Positive Affect.

Abstract

Social interactions are essential for both older adults and children, and engaging in intergenerational leisure activities offers social benefits for both generations. Board games stand out as a relevant medium for bringing together participants of different ages. However, their social features within an intergenerational context remain largely unexplored. This observational study sought to explore prosocial behaviors exhibited by older adults and school-aged children during both cooperative and competitive board games. Specifically, 11 dyads, each consisting of an older adult and a child, were filmed while playing a cooperative and a competitive board game. The results revealed that the older adults demonstrated more prosocial behaviors than the children, and the competitive setting fostered more pro-social behaviors than the cooperative one. Furthermore, intergenerational board games elicited positive affects among players, though the older participants reported facing significant difficulties and exerting considerable effort during the game sessions. These findings can inform the development of intergenerational programs aimed at fostering positive social interactions between older adults and children, serving as valuable guidelines for practitioners when selecting board games for such activities.