Migration and “Skipped Generation” Households in Thailand

Abstract

Many working-age adults in developing countries leave their homes for jobs to support their families and leave their children behind in the care of their own parents. This chapter focuses on these “skipped generation” households, in which grandparents live only with their grandchildren due to the migration of their adult children. The authors explore the experiences of caregivers, including how tasks and responsibilities are distributed within families, the nature of exchanges between grandparents and their adult children and between grandchildren and grandparents, and the ways in which “skipped generation” households cope with separation and the maintenance of family ties. The chapter examines how culturally grounded ethnotheories and religious concepts (i.e., karma and merit-making) factor into decisions to assume the caregiving role and considers the impact of this situation on the grandparents and the complexity of their experience.

A Confluence of Worries: Grandparents in Skipped-Generation Households in Thailand

“…A third reason affecting grandparental worries about safety was grandchildren’s access to cell phones. This finding is important because previous research has found that cell phones can enhance family contact and closeness (Ingersoll-Dayton, Punpuing, Tangchonlatip, & Yakas, 2018a; Knodel et al, 2010). However, as noted by our Thai grandparents, cell phones can also provide a false sense of security because grandparents are not certain about their grandchildren’s location.…”

“…Grandparents who have primary caregiving responsibility for their grandchildren experience a wide variety of emotions. Caring for grandchildren can be not only enjoyable (Ingersoll-Dayton et al, 2018a) but also evokes considerable worry. The present study expands on previous research by focusing on grandparents’ worries in the context of migration and by broadening the perspective to a non-Western country.…”

“…Finally, in this study our focus was on identifying the types of worries experienced by grandparents. Worries were sometimes paired with positive feelings resulting in ambivalence and possible tensions; for example, grandparents worrying about finances and enjoying their grandchildren’s companionship (Ingersoll-Dayton et al, 2018a). Further research is needed to examine how the worries of grandparents as well as their ambivalence about caregiving affects their mental health.…”

Conflict in Skipped Generation Households in Thailand

“…These cases add to the existing literature on intergenerational conflict by highlighting an additional source of family tension in skipped generation families: Grandparents may enjoy providing care for their grandchildren, welcome their company, and appreciate their help (Ingersoll-Dayton, Punpuing, et al., 2018; Ingersoll-Dayton, Tangchonlatip, et al., 2018). Therefore, when their adult children ask the grandparents to give up their grandchildren, a dispute may result.…”

“…On the one hand, grandparents may derive a sense of purpose from caring for their grandchildren, appreciate their grandchildren’s companionship, and anticipate the potential for more remittances from their adult migrant children (Baker & Silverstein, 2012; Ingersoll-Dayton, Punpuing, Tangchonlatip, & Yakas, 2018; Ingersoll-Dayton, Tangchonlatip, Punpuing, & Yakas, 2018; Ingersoll-Dayton, Punpuing, Tangchonlatip, & Yakas, 2017; Narongchai & Ayuwat, 2011; Thang, 2012). On the other hand, grandparents may feel trapped by their caregiving responsibilities, worried about their own health, and concerned that they do not have sufficient financial resources to raise their grandchildren (Ingersoll-Dayton, Punpuing, et al., 2018). Another dynamic that can contribute to grandparents’ mixed feelings about caring for grandchildren is intergenerational conflict.…”