mixedgeneration

Mixedgeneration is a term used to describe contexts in which people from more than one generation interact or co-reside. It is not a formal technical category; definitions vary. In sociological and demography literature, it commonly refers to households or communities that include members from two or more generations, such as children with parents and/or grandparents living together. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with multigenerational and intergenerational, but those terms have more established usage in research and policy.

In housing, mixed-generation arrangements may arise from caregiving needs, aging populations, economic factors, or cultural norms, and are studied for impacts on well-being, finances, and social ties. In education and employment, the phrase is used less often; where used, mixed-age classrooms or multigenerational teams seek to leverage diverse experience and foster mentorship, though they may pose scheduling and instructional challenges.

Policy and research examine benefits such as social support, resource sharing, and intergenerational solidarity, alongside challenges including privacy, space, and differing needs across age groups. Because there is no universal definition, researchers typically specify the age ranges and contexts when invoking mixedgeneration, and may use terms like multigenerational household or intergenerational living for precision.

See also: multigenerational household, intergenerational living, mixed-age classroom.