Intergenerational communications have become an important topic of conversation and also real-world experience. This is because of the increasing longevity and well-being of ageing people across the world, Singapore included. In this post we discuss this subject from the perspectives of definition, generation differences, and bridging the generation gap. In the next post, we will discuss how we can build positive relationships.
Definition
Intergenerational communication can be defined as the interactions between individuals from different age cohorts or age groups. Interactions between a parent and child, or a grandparent and grandchild will be examples. [1] https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756841/obo-9780199756841-0217.xml
Generation differences
With the increasing lifespan of mankind, the Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are now able to see and live side by side with their grandchildren’s generation. This grandchildren generation is referred to as Generation Y or the Millennials (born between 1981 and 2000). In between these two generations are Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), the generation of the Baby Boomers’ children. So together they form the Grand Pa and Grand Ma, Children, and Grandchildren generations.
“The gap between Baby Boomers and Millennials is staggering, but Generation X-ers find themselves in the middle of the two, sometimes overlapping in both directions, serving as a ‘mediating generation’. Members of Generation X find ease in relating to members of the Baby Boomer generation because many of them also had to learn to use technology and social media sites as they arose, but can also relate to the Millennial generation, as those are their children.” [2] https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/comjournal/vol6/iss1/6
Bridging the gap
The generation gap of lived experience is one of the biggest reasons for intergenerational disconnect. A study by Hannah Downs which was reported in 2019 in the Concordia Journal of Communication Research throws some light on the problem. Her study examines intergenerational communication and perception. Using the Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory and statistical analysis, she found answers to her 2 research questions (RQs):
RQ1 — What is the main cause for the generational disconnect between Baby Boomers and Millennials?
RQ2– How do the different generations believe they are perceived by others?
Figure 1 provides the answers to RQ1. Hannah Downs calculated that the communication methods were NOT significantly different in the Millennials compared to the Baby Boomers and Generation X. Nevertheless, there are differences, as shown above. Misconceptions are also uncovered. For example, it is true that Millennials communicate a lot via text messages, but contrary to what we are led to believe, they also top in face to face communications!
Figure 2 provides the answers to RQ2. What is salient in the results is the Millennials acted on what they believed what others think of them. Hence, the Millennials acted lazy, spoiled, selfish because they believed others perceived them to be that way. They are behaving as what the world has stereotyped them!
Take home messages
Hannah Down’s 2019 study report is useful in understanding the real world. With a better understanding of the communication tools used and environment each generation lives in, we can close the generation gaps. We can get beyond stereotypes and develop positive relationships across generations. This will be the topic of the next post on this subject.
References and acknowledgements
- Amber K, et al (2018). Intergenerational communication. Oxford Biographies. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756841/obo-9780199756841-0217.xml
- Hannah Downs (2019). Bridging the Gap: How the Generations Communicate. Concordia Journal of Communication Research Vol 6, Issue 1. https://digitalcommons.cap.edu/comjournal/vol6/iss1/6
The use of the unsplash picturre in this post’s feature image from National Cancer Institute, Singapore is gratefully acknowledged.
Dr LG Goh
Dr GOH Lee Gan is a retired Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System. He has an interest in learning and teaching how we can age well everyday (AWE).
