Process Evaluation Results From an Intergenerational Physical Activity Intervention for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

BACKGROUND: Grandparents and the grandchildren they raise may experience stress related to their caregiving relationship that negatively impacts their health. Thus, there is a need to develop intergenerational health promotion interventions for these kinship families. METHODS: An 8-week intergenerational physical activity intervention for kinship families was developed and implemented. The specific goal was to understand the process of implementing the intervention. Content analysis of observational data provided an in-depth account of the intervention's process (ie, recruitment, dose delivered, dose received, fidelity, and context). RESULTS: Community and support service organizations referred more participants to the study than individual stakeholders. Most participants attended approximately 10 classes, and the grandparents were more engaged than the grandchildren during the classes. Intervention fidelity was confirmed with the fidelity checklist and observational notes. Health emerged as a barrier to participation, while the intergenerational nature of the intervention was a facilitator. Lastly, the context domain described how the grandparents' complex lives affected their ability to participate, while the dedication of the recreation staff helped the intervention to proceed efficiently. CONCLUSION: The distinct details gleaned from this study can provide guidance on how to develop and implement future intergenerational interventions.

Does Self-Efficacy Affect Responsiveness to Cognitive Speed of Processing Training?

OBJECTIVE: Older adults with higher self-efficacy may be more likely to benefit from some cognitive training approaches. We examined whether self-efficacy serves as a mediator or moderator of responsiveness to cognitive speed of processing training (SOPT). METHOD: We used data from the Staying Keen in Later Life (SKILL) study (N = 128) and the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study (N = 1,400). Both studies assessed cognitive speed of processing (Useful Field of View Test-UFOV) and self-efficacy among community-dwelling older adults who were either randomized to SOPT or control conditions. We constructed regression models examining self-efficacy as a predictor of training responsiveness. RESULTS: Analyses from both studies indicated that participants' self-efficacy scores were not predictive of training gains from SOPT, as measured by UFOV performance. DISCUSSION: Self-efficacy does not affect older adults' ability to benefit from cognitive SOPT.