Abstract
The perceived significance of grandparents in the lives of teenagers was explored. A sample of 225 predominately working class adolescents aged 13–18 years (X=15.48; SD=2.54) responded to a survey instrument that assessed the nature of their voluntary interaction with grandparents. Results challenged the assumption that teenagers view grandparents as playing confidant and companion roles in their lives. Adolescents were found to share regularly a variety of recreational activities with grandparents and expressed positive feelings about spending leisure time with grandparents. Findings also suggested that the onset of adolescence may result in a positive change in the nature of the grandchild-grandparent relationship. Future research was suggested which views the family as a system and explores the role parents play in determining the quality of teenagers' relations with grandparents.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aldous, J. (1978). The family as a social system. In J. Aldous (Ed.),Family careers: Developmental changes in families. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Barranti, C. C. (1985)). The grandparent/grandchild relationship: Family resource in an era of voluntary bonds.Family Relations, 34 343–352.
Baranowski, M. D. (1982). Grandparent-adolescent relations: Beyond the nuclear family.Adolescence, 17, 575–584.
Brubaker, T. H. (1985).Later life families. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Cherlin, A., & Furstenberg, F. (1985). Styles and strategies of grandparenting. In V. L. Bengston & J. E. Robertson (Eds.),Grandparenthood. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Clavan, S. (1978). The impact of social class and social trends on the role of grandparents.The Family Coordinator, 27, 351–357.
Gilford, R., & Black, D. (1972). The grandchild—grandparent dyad: Ritual or relationship. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, San Juan, PR.
Hartshorne, T. S., & Manaster, G. J. (1982). The relationships with grandparents: Contact, importance, and role conception.International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 15, 233–245.
Hill, R., Foote, N., Aldous, J., Carlson, R., & Mc Donald, R. (1970).Family development in three generations. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.
Hoffman, E. (1979–1980). Young adults' relationships with their grandparents: An exploratory study.International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 10, 299–310.
Kahana, E., & Coe, R. M. (1969). Perceptions of grandparenthood by community and institutionalized aged.Proceedings of the Seventy—Seventh Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 4, 735–736 (summary).
Kahana, E., & Kahana, B. (1971). Grandparenthood from the perspective of the developing grandchild.Developmental Psychology, 3, 98–105.
Kivinick, H. Q. (1982).The meaning of grandparenthood. Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press.
Konopka, G. (1976).Young girls: A portrait of adolescence. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Robertson, J. F. (1975). Interaction in three generational families, parents as mediators: Toward a theoretical perspective.International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 6, 103–110.
Robertson, J. F. (1976). Significance of grandparents—perceptions of young adult children.The Gerontologist, 16, 137–140.
Streltzer, A. (1979). A grandchildren's group in a home for the aged.Health Social Work, 4, 167–183.
Troll, L. E. (1983). Grandparents: The family watchdogs. In T. H. Brubaker (Ed.),Family relationships in later life. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Troll, L. E. (1980). Grandparenting. In L. W. Poon's (Ed.),Aging in the 1980s: Psychological issues. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Mary Dellmann-Jenkins is Assistant Professor of Individual and Family Studies and Gerontology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Dr. Dellmann-Jenkins earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Diane Papalia is Professor of Child and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She holds a Ph.D. from West Virginia University at Morgantown. Both authors are currently involved in research in the area of older adult's psychological and social functioning. Martha Lopez collected the data for the study. She is currently a high school home economics teacher.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dellmann-Jenkins, M., Papalia, D. & Lopez, M. Teenagers' reported interaction with grandparents: Exploring the extent of alienation. J Fam Econ Iss 8, 35–46 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01555770
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01555770