EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF FREQUENT AND POSITIVE INTERGENERATIONAL CONTACT ON YOUNG ADULTS' BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS TOWARD OLDER ADULTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF OPTIMISM AND AGING ATTITUDES

Abstract

This study examined the moderating effects of future anxiety and aging attitudes on the relationship between intergenerational contact and behavioral intentions of young adults towards older adults in Turkey in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in February 2023. Participants included 201 young adults with a mean age of 20.98 (SD=1.94). The study supported Hypothesis 1, indicating that young adults with more frequent and positive contact with older adults demonstrated greater behavioral intentions towards older adults. Hypothesis 2 was supported only for contact frequency, suggesting that aging attitudes moderated the effects of contact frequency on behavioral intentions. Hypothesis 3 was supported only for contact frequency, indicating that future anxiety moderates the relationship between contact frequency and behavioral intentions. Specifically, individuals with lower levels of future anxiety and frequent intergenerational contact demonstrated stronger behavioral intentions towards older adults than those with higher future anxiety and infrequent contact. These findings hold practical implications for developing policies and programs that can enhance intergenerational solidarity and caregiving in Turkey and elsewhere, addressing the critical need for support for older adults in the wake of adverse living situations.