Intergenerational relationship quality links generativity to positive life attitudes in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional mediation study

Abstract

• Generativity is positively associated with attitudes toward life in older adults • Intergenerational relationship quality is strongly linked to positive life attitudes • High-quality intergenerational relationships partially mediate this association • Relational contexts enable generativity to translate into psychological well-being • Strengthening intergenerational bonds may promote adaptive aging in communities Generativity is a central psychosocial resource in later life, yet the mechanisms through which it shapes older adults’ attitudes toward life remain insufficiently understood. Intergenerational relationship quality (IRQ) may represent a key relational pathway linking generativity to psychological well-being. This study examined the associations among generativity, intergenerational relationship quality, and attitudes toward life in community-dwelling older adults and tested whether IRQ mediates the relationship between generativity and life attitudes. A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was employed. A convenience sample of 200 community-dwelling older adults was recruited from elderly clubs in Egypt. Data were collected using the Intergenerational Relationship Quality Scale for Aging Parents, the Loyola Generativity Scale, and the Life Attitude Scale–Brief. Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis were conducted. Generativity was positively associated with intergenerational relationship quality (r = 0.309, p < 0.001) and attitudes toward life (r = 0.424, p < 0.001). Intergenerational relationship quality was strongly associated with attitudes toward life (r = 0.518, p < 0.001). Path analysis demonstrated a significant direct effect of generativity on life attitudes and a significant indirect effect via intergenerational relationship quality, indicating partial mediation. High-quality intergenerational relationships serve as a critical psychosocial mechanism through which generativity translates into more positive attitudes toward life in later adulthood. Interventions that strengthen intergenerational bonds may promote adaptive aging and psychological well-being among community-dwelling older adults.