Cross-age friendship in 25 European countries
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: This paper focuses on individual and country-level circumstances shaping friendships between \nyoung and old to gain insight into conditions for intergenerational solidarity. Using European \nSocial Survey data, findings show that relatively few people have cross-age friendships (18% of \nthe young and 31% of the old). As predicted by the “meeting principle”, individuals who operate \nin settings where there are opportunities for meaningful interactions with people belonging to a \ndifferent age group are more likely to have cross-age friendships. As predicted by the \n“disposition principle”, individuals with more favourable attitudes towards other age groups are \nmore likely to have cross-age friendships. Neither the Active Ageing Index nor macro-level trust \nshow significant associations with the likelihood of having cross-age friendships. Apparently, \nconditions that bring generations together are at the local level, underscoring the importance of \ndecentralized initiatives aimed at increased contact and co-operation across age groups.
Authors: Pearl A. Dykstra, Maria Fleischmann
Institution: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2414464942