What is Intergenerational Storytelling? Defining the Critical Issues for Aging Research in the Humanities

Abstract Intergenerational storytelling (IGS) has recently emerged as an arts- and humanities-focused approach to aging research. Despite growing appeal and applications, however, IGS methods, practices, and foundational concepts remain indistinct. In response to such heterogeneity, our objective was to comprehensively describe the state of IGS in aging research and assess the critical (e.g., conceptual, ethical, and social justice) issues raised by its current practice. Six databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, AgeLine,  and Sociological Abstracts) were searched using search terms relating to age,intergenerational,story, andstorytelling. Peer-reviewed, English-language studies conducted with participants residing in non-clinical settings were included. One thousand one hundred six (1106) studies were initially retrieved; 70 underwent full review, and 26 fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Most studies characterized IGS as a practice involving older adults (>  50 years old) and conventionally-aged postsecondary/college students (17–19 years old). Typical methodologies included oral and, in more recent literature, digital storytelling. Critical issues included inconsistently reported participant data, vast variations in study design and methods, und efined key concepts, includingyounger vs.older cohorts,generation,storytelling, and whether IGS comprised an intentionalresearch method or a retrospectiveoutcome. While IGS holds promise as an emerging field of ...
Source: Journal of Medical Humanities - Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research