A scoping review of Rogers’ person-centred approach to identify constructs relevant to optimal intergenerational relationships

Abstract

Optimal intergenerational relationships make important social contributions to age-inclusive communities and societies. Intergenerational relationships involve different cohorts of people across the life course. Existing theories look at intergenerational relationships from an intrapsychic experience, socio-cultural perspective, and/or in terms of outcomes, but do not adequately explain what occurs between interacting generational members to yield the experiences and outcomes. We identified Rogers' person-centred approach (PCA) as a useful framework for creating optimal relationships and accordingly this article aims to identify the constructs of the PCA in the context in which Rogers developed them and we applied them to intergenerational relationships in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a scoping review and sampled Rogers' original publications between January 1951 and December 1997 and obtained 1200 documents. After removing duplicates (n = 567) and applying exclusion criteria, 67 records were analysed thematically. The following PCA constructs emerged: congruence, warmth, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and locus of control, as well as two outcomes of the optimal manifestation of PCA constructs: confirmation and differentiation. We also present two PCA relational dynamics to explain optimal relationships: circularity and reciprocity. Interpreting intergenerational relationships through the lens of the PCA not only identifies the constructs of optimal relationships but also offers recommendations for transforming intergenerational relationships towards new levels of interpersonal cohesion.