Work

Intergenerational social innovation project "Cos_Avos": active aging through Physical Education

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: The population of older adults grows exponentially, age discrimination, negative stereotypes and prejudice towards them are on the rise. To combat this, there is a need for proposals that enhance people’s perception of the older adults by presenting aging as a positive paradigm. Objective: to generate empathy, collaboration, improved social relations, open-mindedness and initiative among older adults, children and adolescents. Methodology: 767 school (8 to 16 years old), and 141 older adults (65 to 89 years old) took part of physical-sports activities carried out over a 10 days period in the social-health centers. To evaluate the effect of intergenerational project on the emotional, social, functional and cognitive dimensions of the participants, an ad hoc questionnaire was carried out. Results: The results showed a significant positive effect (p<0.05) across all the groups, with the results obtained by the high school group (in the social, 5.00±0.00), cognitive (5.00±0.00) and emotional (4.90±0.12) dimensions) being particularly noteworthy. Discussion: The results suggest that intergenerational physical-sport activities effectively reduce age-related stereotypes and promote mutual understanding. The emotional and social benefits observed align with existing literature emphasizing the value of shared movement and cooperation for psychological well-being. Future research should explore long-term effects and strategies for integrating these programs into education and community health. Conclusions: The project received highly positive evaluations from both students and older adults, who highlighted increased empathy, creativity, and social responsibility, as well as enthusiasm for future participation.

Source: Retos

DOI: 10.47197/retos.v76.117886

Authors: Angel Casal Moldes, Adriana Lopez Rodriguez, Jose Mª Cancela Carral

Institution: Universidade de Vigo

Language: English

Topic: Aging and Gerontology Research

Subfield: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $215