Testing the Shielding Effect of Intergenerational Contact against Ageism in the Workplace: A Canadian Study

Martine Lagacé, Anna Rosa Donizzetti, Lise Van de Beeck, Caroline D. Bergeron, Philippe Rodrigues-Rouleau and Audrey St-Amour
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Martine Lagacé: Department of Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Anna Rosa Donizzetti: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Lise Van de Beeck: School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Caroline D. Bergeron: LIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Philippe Rodrigues-Rouleau: Department of Communication, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Audrey St-Amour: School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Negative outcomes of ageism in the context of the Canadian labor market are well documented. Older workers remain the target of age-based stereotypes and attitudes on the part of employers. This study aims at assessing (1) the extent to which quality and quantity intergroup contacts between younger and older workers as well as knowledge-sharing practices reduce ageist attitudes, in turn (2) how a decrease in ageist attitudes increase the level of workers’ engagement and intentions to remain in the organization. Data were collected from 603 Canadian workers (aged 18 to 68 years old) from private and public organizations using an online survey measuring concepts under study. Results of a path analysis suggest that intergroup contacts and knowledge-sharing practices are associated with positive attitudes about older workers. More so, positive attitudes about older workers generate higher levels of work engagement, which in turn are associated with stronger intentions to remain with the organization. However, positive attitudes about older workers had no effect on intentions to remain in the workplace. Results are discussed in light of the intergroup contact theory.

Keywords: older workers; intergroup contacts; knowledge sharing; work engagement; intention to remain in the workplace (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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