Perceptions of grandparents’ generativity and personal growth in supplementary care providers of middle-aged grandchildren

Abstract

Considering the Generativity Model in later life by Cheng, the objective of this study was to analyze how grandparents’ socializing values and styles toward grandchildren aged 6–12 are associated with grandparents’ personal growth. A sample of 300 grandparents participated in this study. Socializing styles (authoritative and permissive) mediated between participants’ personal and relationship values and their personal growth. Abilities and knowledge values showed a positive and a significant relation with grandparents’ personal growth. In contrast, the authoritarian style and materialistic values were not associated with grandparents’ personal growth. These results show how commitment to generative concerns and acts, such as grandchildren’s socialization, relates to grandparents’ well-being. The need to develop social programs promoting intergenerational shared activities and positive family interactions is stressed.

Domestic Generative Acts and Life Satisfaction among Supplementary Grandparent Caregivers in Urban China: Mediated by Social Support and Moderated by Hukou Status

“…The study confirmed the first hypothesis by showing that supplementary grandparent caregivers in urban China with more domestic generative acts were rewarded greater life satisfaction, which echoed the generativity theory [51]. The findings were also aligned with foreign literature regarding the positive outcomes of grandparents' generativity, claiming that grandparent caregiving on a part-time basis helped grandparents' personal growth and meaning-making [27,28]. In addition, grandparent-provided childcare, as a way of facilitating the maternal labor force participation in urban China, may boost the economic wellbeing of the extended family and add to the self-worth of grandparent caregivers, thus enhancing their life satisfaction [25].…”

“…Western research has acknowledged being generative as an essential factor in maintaining late-life psychological health because it may provide a sense of purpose, feeling valued, and feelings of productivity [26,27]. A sample of 300 Spanish supplementary grandparents reported personal growth when they conducted generative acts to grandchildren's socialization [28]. In the Chinese context, grandparent caregiving as a common practice of being generative in old age may enhance the psychological wellbeing of grandparent caregivers, as revealed from a Hong Kong study [29].…”

Validation of the Generative Acts Scale-Chinese Version (GAS-C) among Middle-Aged and Older Adults as Grandparents in Mainland China

“…First introduced by Erikson [ 1 ], generativity is concerned with establishing, nurturing and contributing to the younger generations, through actions such as childrearing, teaching, mentoring, volunteering, and community activities [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Although originally applied to mid-life adults, the concept of generativity has extended to older adults who are increasingly involved as grandparent caregivers worldwide [ 5 ] (pp.…”

“…Caregiving to grandchildren has been viewed as an expression of generativity in later life that tends to yield tremendous health benefits to grandparent caregivers [ 6 ]. Western literature has extensively documented the positive role of generativity regarding grandparent caregivers’ personal growth, satisfaction, and psychological well-being [ 3 , 4 , 7 ]. In addition, generativity has been found to be negatively associated with depressive symptoms among Korean grandmothers [ 8 ].…”