Friends or family. What do younger generations think older generations need?

Declining birth rates, ageing populations, and a growing prevalence of ageism worldwide has led researchers to speculate future intergenerational conflict. In order to decrease potential impacts of ageing populations, interventions are now focusing on healthy ageing. Although social connectedness has been identified as a primary component of healthy ageing, there is a paucity of research around the perceptions that different age groups hold about older adults, particularly whether older adults derive more social connectedness from their family or friends. Aim: This study investigated whether adults over 65 years are perceived by adults under 65 as being more socially connected to their friends or to their family, and, whether these perceptions are mediated by age. Method: 525 university students and staff aged between 18 and 71 completed an online survey measuring personal social connectedness to friends and family using Lubben Social Network Scales, as well as perceptions of social connectedness for adults aged over 65 using Kornadt & Rothermund Domain Specific Age Stereotypes Scales (DSASS) Results: Principal Component Analysis of the 13 item perceptions of social connectedness scale (DSASS) for adults over 65 revealed two positively correlated ( r=.32, N= 520, p