The State of Our Art: A Review of Theories Used in Intergenerational Program Research (2003–2014) and Ways Forward

Despite several published articles examining various characteristics of intergenerational program research over the past decade, there has been no comprehensive examination of how theory is being used (or not) in the field of intergenerational practice for more than 10 years. This article examines the published research literature on intergenerational programs over the past decade (2003–2014) to discover which theoretical perspectives have been applied to intergenerational practice and analyze the questions and issues that emerge from those theories and their use. The authors consider what is needed to advance our theoretical understanding of intergenerational practice and suggest some theoretical directions forward for the field.