Questionnaires were administered to a sample of adults to assess the extent of social distance between people of different ages. The findings suggest that the greater the age difference (younger or older) between people, the greater the social distance they feel. (Author)

A statewide sample of 234 individuals, 70 years of age or older, was employed to assess the nature and prominence of intimate friendships in the social world of aged men and women. There was little sexual differentiation in the characteristics of intimate friendships in late life. (Author)

This longitudinal analysis examines changes in voluntary association participation levels over a four-year period using data from the Duke Adaptation Study (N=374) and over a two and one-half year period using data from Oberlin, Ohio (N=104). The findings showed the extent of participation was high in both samples. (Author)

Subjects were 42 women between the ages of 40 and 60 from Springfield, Missouri. It was hypothesized that as women's neighborliness increased, the potential for disengagement from society decreased. A significant negative correlation of the .01 level was found to support the prediction. (Author)

Drawings of one man at four ages, 20, 40, 60, 80 were presented to 180 children (preschool-sixth grade) in a structured interview situation in order to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward age and the elderly. Development of the concept of old follows a cognitive-developmental sequence. (Author)

This paper, presented at the Gerontological Society meeting, October 1975, Louisville, examines the hypothesis that attitudinal differences between age groups will vary by type of community. Comparisons are made of 24 attitude scale scores by 224 young-old persons and 42 old-old persons. More differences were found in the urban groups. (Author)

Adolescents' attitudes toward aged were positive, regardless of age. Contact with grand-parents and more positive attitudes were found in middle class compared to lower class, and among whites compared to nonwhites. Questionnaires were given to all 9th and 12th grade students in a rural high school (N=413). (Author)

This study investigated the feelings and concerns of 64 elderly persons, as revealed by a projective instrument, in relation to number and sex of siblings. The number and proportion of female siblings were found to have a greater influence than male siblings on the elderly's feelings and concerns. (Author)

This exploratory study examines relative effects of individual, client, and organizational characteristics on stereotypes of the aged held by nursing home administrators. Data from 45 administrators suggest client characteristics may be more important than personal or organizational dimensions in explaining variation in perceptions of the aged.…

Restoration of a major social role to institutionalized aged through a program of social interaction and socialization with adult mentally retarded is described and evaluated. The over-all findings encourage this innovative opportunity for institutionalized aged. (Author)

A survey of 137 older persons from the mailing list of a multipurpose senior center found that participants and nonparticipants in the center's activities did not differ in terms of their life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was predicted by the respondents' activity level, financial status, and health status. (Author)

Patterns of friendship among intellectually intact nursing home patients were studied about relationships with other nursing home residents, staff, volunteers, and friends outside the institution. Findings demonstrated two-thirds of the patient-respondents named residents as friends, two-thirds named staff, and one-half named volunteers. Presented…

This exploratory investigation tests the applicability of constructs developed in ethnic contact studies to intergenerational contact. The attitudes of young subjects deteriorated significantly after one semester of classroom interaction with elderly fellow students. Factors operant in the deterioration of attitudes as well as limitations in the…

The affective quality of relationships between noninstitutionalized white, elderly (65+) parents and their adult (21+) children was explored through interviews with 54 parent-child pairs. The health and the attitude toward aging indicator were found to be statistically significantly related to the family relationship indicator. (Author)

Perceptions of 160 institutionalized and 207 noninstitutionalized old people (mean age = 76.6 yrs.) were examined with respect to the quality of their family relations. Responses to six survey items measuring satisfaction with various aspects of family relations were cross-tabulated with gender, marital status, health status, age, and living…