Patterns of Intergenerational Interaction in Community-Based Welfare Facilities: Group Size, Generational Richness, and Generation-Based Participation

Abstract

This study investigates patterns of intergenerational interaction in community-based welfare facilities in Japan by quantitatively examining group size, generational richness, and generation-based participation. Based on systematic observations of two facilities—the Kasugadai Community Center in Aikawa Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Kemetomo House Kids Nishi-Oi in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo—users were classified by age group and role, and interactions were analyzed as group-based social configurations. The results show that most intergenerational interactions occurred in small groups of two to five participants, with single-generation and two-generation groups accounting for the majority of cases, while interactions involving three or more generations were rare. These findings indicate that mere generational co-presence does not necessarily lead to diverse intergenerational exchange, as older adults primarily engaged through structured or staff-mediated interactions rather than spontaneous multigenerational gatherings. Overall, the study provides empirical insight into how intergenerational engagement is organized within welfare settings and highlights the influence of spatial and institutional contexts on interaction patterns, offering implications for the design of more inclusive, interaction-supportive community spaces.