About Us
The science behind Weavers
Decades of research tell us what keeps people resilient as they age and what helps young people grow into strong adults. It's the same 3 factors. The Weavers program is designed to increase these factors for both generations at once.
“I actually feel physically healthier knowing that someone else has my back.”
Seela, Silver
“It was meaningful to get encouragement from someone much older. It gave me some self-confidence.”
Olivia, Weaver
The 3 Ps: People, Purpose, and Possibility
These factors predict resilience in older adults and are essential to thriving for young people. They are also measurable and modifiable.
People. Strong social connection is a known protective factor for mental and physical health for humans of all ages. Older adults with strong social relationships live longer — an effect bigger than exercise and on par with quitting smoking. Young people in mentoring relationships have better mental health and academic outcomes.
Purpose. Older adults with the strongest sense of purpose have a 46% lower mortality risk over four years than those with the weakest. A stronger sense of purpose is also a proven protective factor against depression and anxiety for adolescents.
Possibility. Optimism contributes to greater longevity and fewer cardiovascular events for older adults. For younger people, optimism predicts greater life satisfaction, stronger social integration, and lower depression in adulthood.
Two-way benefit
Most volunteer programs run one direction: an older adult gets help, or a young person gets mentored. Weavers is built for mutual benefit to both parties. The Silver shares a lifetime of experience and insight. The Weaver brings youthful energy and enthusiasm. Both bring a desire to connect and contribute to their community, and both give the other person something they need.
What we're measuring
The Weavers model is based on this established and peer-reviewed research. Our own pilot has shown similar benefits to participants on a small scale. We are collecting data using validated instruments to demonstrate our efficacy with increasing social connection, sense of purpose, and optimism for participants, along with other benefits.
Sources
1. Tkatch, R., et al. (2021). The additive impact of multiple psychosocial protective factors on selected health outcomes among older adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. N=3,573 adults 65+, funded through the AARP Medicare Supplement program.
2. Kim, E.S., Tkatch, R., Martin, D., MacLeod, S., Sandy, L., & Yeh, C. (2022). Aging Strong: Promoting Resilience Through Optimism, Purpose, and Social Connections. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.
3. Yeh, C., Russell, D., & Schaeffer, J. (2019). Aging Strong 2020: Interventions to Improve Loneliness Among Older Adults. Innovation in Aging, 3, S184.
4. Urban, P. (2022). How Being Optimistic Could Help You Live Longer. AARP. (Summarizes the Harvard-led Nurses' Health Study on optimism and longevity.)
5. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T.B., & Layton, J.B. (2010). Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLOS Medicine.
6. Alimujiang, A., et al. (2019). Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years. JAMA Network Open.
7. Moieni, M., Irwin, M.R., Seeman, T.E., Robles, T.F., Lieberman, M.D., Breen, E.C., Okimoto, S., Lengacher, C., Arevalo, J.M.G., Olmstead, R., Cole, S.W., & Eisenberger, N.I. (2020). Feeling needed: Effects of a randomized generativity intervention on well-being and inflammation in older women. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 84, 97-105.
8. (2022). The Association of Dispositional Optimism and Pessimism With Cardiovascular Disease Events in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of the American Heart Association.
9. Gruenewald, T.L., Tanner, E.K., Fried, L.P., Carlson, M.C., Xue, Q.L., Parisi, J.M., Rebok, G.W., Yarnell, L.M., & Seeman, T.E. (2016). The Baltimore Experience Corps Trial: Enhancing Generativity via Intergenerational Activity Engagement in Later Life. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 71(4), 661-670.
10. Flett, G.L., et al. (2025). Mattering as a Core Need in Children and Adolescents: Theoretical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives. American Psychological Association.
11. HealthMeasures / PROMIS Health Organization. PROMIS Short Form instruments: Emotional Support, Meaning and Purpose.
12. Scheier, M.F., Carver, C.S., & Bridges, M.W. Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R).
13. Connor, K.M. & Davidson, J.R.T. Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-2).
14. Raposa, E.B., Rhodes, J., Stams, G.J., Card, N., Burton, S., Schwartz, S., Sykes, L.Y., Kanchewa, S., Kupersmidt, J., & Hussain, S. (2019). The effects of youth mentoring programs: A meta-analysis of outcome studies. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 423-443.
15. Barcaccia, B., Couyoumdjian, A., Di Consiglio, M., Papa, C., Ganucci Cancellieri, U., & Cervin, M. (2023). Purpose in life as an asset for well-being and a protective factor against depression in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1250279.
16. Tetzner, J., & Becker, M. (2025). Long-Term Advantages of Adolescent Optimism: Nonlinear Associations With Adult Outcomes and its Protective Role in Buffering Socioeconomic Risk. European Journal of Personality, 39(3), 336-356.