First-Time Grandparents’ Role Satisfaction and Its Determinants

John Condon, Mary Luszcz, Ian McKee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article focuses on satisfaction with the grandparent role at 1 and 2 years after the transition to grandparenthood. Three hundred and eighteen grandparents (male and female) were initially recruited and required to complete a well-validated self-report measure of grandparent satisfaction, together with self-report questionnaires assessing a range of characteristics which might predict role satisfaction. The main finding was that grandparent–grandchild attachment (bonding) was the most powerful predictor. Some predictors (e.g., generativity) appeared to have a direct effect on satisfaction, whereas the effect of others (e.g., grandchild temperament) appeared to be mediated via the grandparent–grandchild attachment relationship. Role satisfaction, aside from its probable relevance to grandparent wellbeing, is also likely to be of relevance to grandparents’ willingness to provide childcare. The latter, besides impacting on well-being of both grandparents and parents, also powerfully influences workforce economics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)340-355
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Aging and Human Development
Volume91
Issue number3
Early online date24 Oct 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020

Keywords

  • generativity
  • grandparent role satisfaction
  • grandparent–grandchild bonding

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'First-Time Grandparents’ Role Satisfaction and Its Determinants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this