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Dimensions of Grandparent-Adult Grandchild Relationships: From Family Ties to Intergenerational Friendships*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Candace L. Kemp
Candace L. Kemp*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Dr. Candace L. Kemp, Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2. (ckemp2@uwo.ca)
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Abstract

This paper examines the growing demographic phenomenon of grandparent–adult grandchild relationships from the perspectives of both generations. Drawing on qualitative life-history interviews (n = 37), this research explores the subjective meanings of the relationship, as well as the experiences of being grandparents and adult grandchildren. Despite tremendous diversity in grandparent–adult grandchild relationships, including differences among and between generations, both groups in this study view one another positively and conceptualize their ties as personally and existentially meaningful. They classify their relationships as a distinct family tie centred on unconditional love, mutual support, respect, and obligation. A number of individuals also discuss their grandparent–adult grandchild relationships as friendships, involving mutual trust, shared confidences, and personal choice. Overall, this research suggests that grandparent-grandchild relationships often grow more profound and meaningful as grandparents and grandchildren age, move through the life course, and experience life events.

Résumé

Cet article porte sur le phénomène démographique croissant des relations entre les grands-parents et leurs petits-enfants d'âge adulte, selon les perspectives des deux générations. Á la lumière d'entrevues qualitatives portant sur les cycles biologiques (n = 37), cette recherche étudie les significations subjectives de ces relations, ainsi que les expériences vécues par les grands-parents et les petits-enfants d'âge adulte. Malgré l'énorme diversité des relations entre les grands-parents et leurs petits-enfants d'âge adulte, y compris les différences entre les générations et au sein d'une même génération, les deux groupes visés par cette étude ont une perspective positive de l'autre et ils voient leurs liens comme étant importants d'un point de vue personnel et existentiel. Ils décrivent leurs relations comme des liens familiaux particuliers axés sur un amour inconditionnel, du soutien mutuel, du respect et un sens du devoir. Un certain nombre de personnes décrivent également cette relation comme une relation d'amitié, fondée sur une confiance réciproque, un échange de confidences et un choix personnel. Dans l'ensemble, cette recherche semble indiquer que les liens entre les grands-parents et leurs petits-enfants d'âge adulte deviennent généralement plus profonds et plus importants au fur et à mesure que les grands-parents et les petits-enfants vieillissent, qu'ils parcourent leur cheminement de vie et qu'ils expérimentent les événements de la vie.

Keywords

intergenerational relationshipsgrandparenthoodadult grandchildrenaginglife courserelations intergénérationnellesconditions des grands-parentspetits-enfants d'âge adultevieillissementcours de la vie
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , Summer/Été 2005 , pp. 161 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

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Footnotes

*

This research was supported by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada Doctoral Fellowship 2002–2003 (752-2002-1028) and the Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population program of research – a SSHRC funded Major Collaborative Research Initiative, Byron Spencer, project director. Thank you to Carolyn Rosenthal, Jane Aronson, Graham Knight, and Joshua Greenberg for their input and feedback throughout the research and writing processes. Thank you also to the CJA reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.

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