Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships: From Families in Contexts to Families as Contexts

Keywords

grandparent, grandchild, grandparent-grandchild relationships

Abstract

Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren provide an excellent framework for integrating family theory and family methodology. Systematic differences as a function of age, gender, life expectancy, and health as played out through generations suggest some topics are best studied by disentangling variability between and within families. Using data from 1,345 grandchildren (52% girls, mean age 13.69 years, range 9 to 20) reporting on 3,664 grandparents, we compare results obtained from studying grandparent-grandchild relationships individually and at the family level. Results suggest important predictors of relationship quality at the within-subject and between-subject levels. Future research should more carefully integrate each level into theory and design.

Original Publication Citation

Davey, A., Savla, J., Janke, M., & Anderson, S.R. (2009). Grandparent-grandchild relationships: From families in contexts to families as contexts. International Journal of Aging and Human Development,69, 311-325. DOI: 10.2190/AG.69.4.d.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2010-01-06

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5298

Publisher

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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