Grandchildhood: adult grandchildren's perception of their role towards their grandparents from an intergenerational perspective.(Report)

INTRODUCTION

In recent decades, research has expanded to investigate ties between grandparents and their grandchildren. This tendency is understandable if we consider rising life expectancy and the structure of contemporary families, which often consist of a number of generations simultaneously. A review of research in this area shows that most studies dealing with grandparenthood discuss processes encountered by grandparents when their family status changes and they become grandparents, as well as the various factors shaping their roles toward and contributions to their grandchildren. In contrast, the issue of "grandchildhood" and the significance of the contributions of adult grandchildren to their grandparents as part of intergenerational relationships have attracted relatively sparse research. The present study attempts to answer the major question: What is the significance of "being a grandchild" as perceived by adult grandchildren and their grandparents? In other words, how is the grandchild's role perceived and how is performance of this role assessed by both generations, grandchildren and grandparents?

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

The study is based on two main theories: the Symbolic Interaction Theory and the Exchange Theory, as well as the Intergenerational Solidarity Model derived from it.

Symbolic Interaction Theory

According to the theory, individuals exist in a symbolic environment and attribute significance to symbolic roles shaped by themselves and by others with whom they have relationships. Thus, the significance which people attribute to symbols forms the basis of human behavior when these symbols are learned from people who are "significant others" with whom they have a relationship, particularly intimate partners in primary groups (LaRossa & Reitzes, 1993; White & Klein, 2002). An important aspect from the perspective of the theory includes the acts of role shaping and expectations, when individuals define and decide which roles are appropriate and functional for them in relation to others in the relationship (Stryker & Serpe, 1982). Some of the roles have a biological basis identified with a certain stage in the various life processes, and people fulfill their roles as "supplementing" those of other people, for example parent-child, grandparent-grandchild (Heiss, 1976), and in the present study grandchild-grandparent.

Exchange Theory