Grandparent–Grandchild Relationships

Abstract

A brief review of major conceptual notions and empirical findings within the literature on grandparent-grandchild relationships is presented. Four major topics for understanding the intergenerational relationship are addressed: the historical context, the importance of the relationship, changes over individual time, and culture and variation. The focus is on grandparents and grandchildren from Western societies and who are biologically connected. Historical contextIn the popular and academic literature it is frequently presumed that grandparent-grandchild relationships have become more important in Western societies than ever before. This idea is often motivated by greater availability of grandparents due to increased length of life and decreased fertility (e.g., Bengtson, 2001). Due to these demographic changes, the lives of

A Typology of U.S. Emerging Adults’ Online and Offline Connectedness with Extended Family

“…While parents facilitate opportunities to connect between younger children and their extended family, this function becomes less prominent as children age and begin to develop their own relationships with family members separate from their parents (Geurts & van Tilburg, 2015 ). The integration of communication technology within families means that any young person with a connection to the internet can interact with other family members autonomously.…”

“…Bengtson and Roberts’ ( 1991 ) IGS has been described as the “gold standard” for understanding intergenerational relationships and is a well-established framework for exploring family obligations and support in an intergenerational context (Silverstein et al, 2010 ). Because emerging adulthood is a time when youth are developing unique relationships with extended family members—separate from their parents—intergenerational solidarity is particularly suited to research that explores these extended family relationships (Geurts & van Tilburg, 2015 ).…”