A Case for the Importance ofA Case for the Importance ofGrandparent-Grandchild Relationships in young

adulthood

Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships in young

adulthood

With entry into adulthood….

With entry into adulthood….

relationships with significant others outside the family assume increased importance for most young adults

Often increases in physical distance between young adults and their grandparents (I.e., leave home)

grandchildren typically acquire the freedom to identify the boundaries and the borders of relationships with their grandparents

relationships with significant others outside the family assume increased importance for most young adults

Often increases in physical distance between young adults and their grandparents (I.e., leave home)

grandchildren typically acquire the freedom to identify the boundaries and the borders of relationships with their grandparents

Boon & Brussoni (1996)Boon & Brussoni (1996)

73% emotionally close More frequent contact and greater

value placed on contact Wider array of shared activities

and perceived benefits High(er) levels of perceived

influence

73% emotionally close More frequent contact and greater

value placed on contact Wider array of shared activities

and perceived benefits High(er) levels of perceived

influence

With entry into adulthood….

With entry into adulthood….

Changes in/challenges to a grandparent’s health may form an increasingly important part of the backdrop of the grandparent-grandchild relationship as grandchildren age Physical and cognitive changes associated

with aging Chronic illness/disability Depression/anxiety

Changes in/challenges to a grandparent’s health may form an increasingly important part of the backdrop of the grandparent-grandchild relationship as grandchildren age Physical and cognitive changes associated

with aging Chronic illness/disability Depression/anxiety

Research QuestionResearch Question

Do conditions that affect grandparents’ health also affect their young adult grandchildren??

Do conditions that affect grandparents’ health also affect their young adult grandchildren??

Boon & Shaw (2007)Boon & Shaw (2007)

153 undergraduates with one or more grandparents living

with physical, cognitive or psychological impairment

57% emotionally close

153 undergraduates with one or more grandparents living

with physical, cognitive or psychological impairment

57% emotionally close

Wide range of impairments

Wide range of impairments

Physical impairments Visual (71.3%) High blood pressure/stroke (62.7%) Arthritis/rheumatism (58.7%) Auditory (55.3%) Digestive problems (38.3%)

Cognitive impairments (due to) Medication (32.0%) Stroke (15.5%) Senile dementia (13.7%) Alzheimer’s disease (7.5%)

Depression/Anxiety (37.6)

Physical impairments Visual (71.3%) High blood pressure/stroke (62.7%) Arthritis/rheumatism (58.7%) Auditory (55.3%) Digestive problems (38.3%)

Cognitive impairments (due to) Medication (32.0%) Stroke (15.5%) Senile dementia (13.7%) Alzheimer’s disease (7.5%)

Depression/Anxiety (37.6)

Worries/apprehensionsWorries/apprehensionsSource/nature % Mean (SD)

May die in near future 95.0 4.77 (1.52)

Unable to care for self 83.2 4.56 (1.63)

Is/Will be lonely 80.0 4.93 (1.76)

Is/will be depressed 76.3 4.45 (1.66)

Loss of contact 65.2 4.63 (1.76)

Lack desire to care for self 54.7 3.73 (1.54)

Financial exploitation 54.0 4.49 (1.68)

Getting lost 50.7 3.89 (1.69)

Going to a nursing home 50.7 3.51 (1.57)

Exploited emotionally 50.4 3.91 (1.84)

Will forget who I am 39.9 4.49 (1.87)

Physically exploited 33.1 4.02 (1.89)

Overall - 4.28 (1.17)

Impact on Own LifeImpact on Own Life

Area affected % Mean (SD)

Thoughts about aging 85.4 4.04 (1.67)

Family cohesiveness 78.8 5.05 (1.43)

Thoughts about own health 76.8 4.46 (1.42)

Way you look at the world 71.0 4.69 (1.35)

Plans for the future 51.7 4.82 (1.21)

Time commitments 48.3 4.50 (1.13)

Grandparent support/companionship 48.3 3.98 (1.31)

Others’ support/companionship 31.8 4.06 (1.06)

Financial constraints 27.2 3.91 (0.92)

Overall - 4.39 (0.79)

Visiting (N =132)Visiting (N =132)Reason FOR % Reason NOT %

Enjoyment 84.1 Time constraints 71.7

Time left together 72.0 Geographical distance 60.1

Social support (GP) 51.5 Emotional distance 18.1

Obligation 41.7 Deteriorated health 11.6

Family pressure 29.5 Loss of contact 6.5

Social support (self) 20.5 Financial constraints 3.6

Guilt 13.6 Not enjoy gp’s company 2.2

Holidays/vacations 8.3 Guilt 2.2

Financial rewards (self) 4.5 Gp doesn’t know/remember you

1.4

Family gatherings 4.5 Family disowned 0.7

Family difficulties (divorce/remarriage)

3.0 Impairment too severe 0.0

Financial rewards (GP) 0.0

Changing Demographics

Changing Demographics

Older adults in western nations are living longer than ever before Substantially greater opportunities for

grandchildren and grandparents to build and maintain relationships

Increased opportunity for grandparent health to impact these relationships AND for these relationships to impact grandparent health

Older adults in western nations are living longer than ever before Substantially greater opportunities for

grandchildren and grandparents to build and maintain relationships

Increased opportunity for grandparent health to impact these relationships AND for these relationships to impact grandparent health

ConclusionsConclusions

Many young adults experience relationships with their “closest” grandparents as influential and emotionally satisfying bonds

Many young adults experience relationships with their “closest” grandparents as influential and emotionally satisfying bonds

The Good News…The Good News…

At least until it reaches a certain threshold of severity, a grandparent’s diminished or declining health may have relatively little NEGATIVE impact on the grandparent-grandchild relationship

At least until it reaches a certain threshold of severity, a grandparent’s diminished or declining health may have relatively little NEGATIVE impact on the grandparent-grandchild relationship

Nevertheless Nevertheless

practitioners and policy makers would be well advised to consider how impairments to elder family members’ health may affect relations with grandchildren

practitioners and policy makers would be well advised to consider how impairments to elder family members’ health may affect relations with grandchildren

Special Thanks toSpecial Thanks to

Mariana BrussoniMegan Shaw

Mariana BrussoniMegan Shaw