Intergenerational Creative Movement Program: A Social Connection Intervention to Foster Health and Well-Being

A sense of connection and belonging is widely recognized to be essential for mental health. Yet, since the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness, social isolation, and mental health problems have remained elevated across America. Transitions into young adulthood and older age, while distinct, similarly challenge social connectedness, especially among women. Our multi-lesson education program connected first-generation female college students with college-educated forty-plus women to foster belonging and improve mental health. The program integrated dance as a creative physical activity, promoted intergenerational engagement through a humanistic focus on generativity, and used a social network approach to gauge the development of connections among participants across the multi-lesson period. Social network analyses (SNA) revealed the program’s success in building close intergenerational connections, reinforced by qualitative insights from in-depth interviews that highlighted an emergent sense of belonging. Pre- and post-intervention surveys showed these connections significantly improved participants’ mental health. These findings were further supported by a comparison of mental health assessments between the participant (n = 20) and control groups (n = 20). Our findings demonstrate the potential for creative movement and SNA techniques to be scaled up in other community settings, highlighting their applicability in fostering social connectedness and enhancing mental health, particularly relevant to aging populations.