This study explores granddaughters' reports of the nature and impact of parental mediation on the development of their feelings of closeness toward their maternal grandmothers. Results from close-ended questions assessing granddaughters' perceptions of parental mediation and relational closeness indicated that closeness was predicted by mediation involving: visits alone with grandmothers, the absence of criticism of grandmothers, communication indicating the grandmothers were important persons, and less influence on conversations or activities. Qualitative analysis of granddaughters' accounts of the influence of parents illustrated what they perceived to be important issues in mediation. Additionally, accounts revealed the role of other family members in the relationship mediation process.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CherlinA. and FurstenbergF. F., The New American Grandparent, Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1986.
2.
NeugartenB. L. and WeinsteinK., The Changing American Grandparent, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 26, pp. 199–204, 1964.
3.
BengtsonV. L., Diversity and Symbolism in Grandparental Roles, in Grandparenthood, BengtsonV. L. and RobertsonJ. F. (eds.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 11–25, 1985.
4.
JohnsonC. L., A Cultural Analysis of the Grandmother, Research on Aging, 5, pp. 547–568, 1983.
5.
KivnickH. Q., The Meaning of Grandparenthood, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1982.
6.
RobertsonJ. F., Significance of Grandparents: Perceptions of Young Adult Grandchildren, The Gerontologist, 16, pp. 137–140, 1976.
7.
RobertsonJ. F., Grandmotherhood: A Study of Role Conceptions, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 39, pp. 165–174, 1977.
8.
WoodV. and RobertsonJ. F., The Significance of Grandparenthood, in Time, Roles and Self in Old Age, GubriumJ. (ed.), Human Sciences Press, New York, pp. 278–304, 1976.
9.
BrimO. G., Adult Socialization, in Socialization and Society, ClausenJ. A. (ed.), Little, Brown & Co., Boston, pp. 182–226, 1968.
10.
HagestadG. O., Problems and Promises in the Social Psychology of Intergenerational Relations, in Aging: Stability and Change in the Family, FogelR. W.HartfieldE.KieslerS. B., and ShanasE. (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 11–47, 1981.
11.
AlbrechtG. L. and GiftH. C., Adult Socialization and Adult Life Development, in Life Span Developmental Psychology: Normative Life Crisis, DatanN. and GinsbergL. H. (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 237–251, 1975.
12.
WheelerS., The Structure of Formally Organized Socialization Settings, in Socialization After Childhood, BrimO. G. and WheelerS. (eds.), Wiley, New York, pp. 51–116, 1966.
13.
AldousJ., Parent-Adult Child Relations as Affected by the Grandparent Status, in Grandparenthood, BengtsonV. L. and RobertsonJ. F. (eds.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 117–132, 1985.
14.
CherlinA. and FurstenbergF. F., Styles and Strategies of Grandparenting, in Grandparenthood, BengtsonV. L. and RobertsonJ. F. (eds.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 97–116, 1985.
15.
HagestadG. O., Continuity and Connectedness, in Grandparenthood, BengtsonV. L. and RobertsonJ. F. (eds.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 31–48, 1985.
16.
HodgsonL. G., Adult Grandchildren and Their Grandparents: The Enduring Bond, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 34, pp. 209–225, 1992.
17.
KahanaB. and KahanaE., Grandparenthood from the Perspective of the Developing Grandchild, Developmental Psychology, 3, pp. 98–105, 1970.
18.
KivettV. R., The Grandparent-Grandchild Connection, in Families: Intergenerational and Generational Connections, PfeiferS. P. and SussmanM. B. (eds.), Haworth Press, New York, pp. 268–290, 1991.
19.
RobertsonJ. F., Interaction in Three-Generation Families, Parents as Mediators: Toward a Theoretical Perspective, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 6, pp. 103–110, 1975.
20.
TrollL. E., The Family of Later Life, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 33, pp. 263–290, 1971.
21.
KennedyG. E., Quality in Grandparent/Grandchild Relationships, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 35, pp. 83–98, 1992.
22.
MatthewsS. H. and SpreyJ., Adolescents' Relationships with Grandparents: An Empirical Contribution to Conceptual Clarification, Journal of Gerontology, 40, pp. 621–626, 1985.
23.
KennedyG. E., College Students' Expectations of Grandparent and Grandchild Role Behaviors, The Gerontologist, 30, pp. 43–48, 1990.
24.
KivettV. R., Grandfathers and Grandchildren: Patterns of Association, Helping, and Psychological Closeness, Family Relations, 34, pp. 565–571, 1985.
25.
EisenbergA. R., Grandchildren's Perspectives on Relationships with Grandparents: The Influence of Gender across Generations, Sex Roles, 19, pp. 205–217, 1988.
26.
HoffmanE., Young Adults' Relations with Their Grandparents: An Exploratory Study, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 10, pp. 299–310, 1979–80.
27.
RobertoK. A. and StroesJ., Grandchildren and Grandparents: Roles, Influences and Relationships, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 34, pp. 227–239, 1992.
28.
ThompsonL. and WalkerA. J., Mothers as Mediators of Intimacy between Grandmothers and Their Young Adult Granddaughters, Family Relations, 36, pp. 72–77, 1987.
29.
HydeV. and GibbsI., A Very Special Relationship: Granddaughters' Perceptions of Grandmothers, Ageing and Society, 12, pp. 83–96, 1993.
30.
KornhaberA. and WoodwardK., Grandparents/Grandchild: The Vital Connection, Anchor, Garden City, New York, 1981.
31.
TrollL. E., Grandparents: The Family Watchdogs, in Family Relationships in Later Life, BrubakerT. (ed.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 63–76, 1983.
32.
BahrH. M., The Kinship Role, in Role Structure and Analysis of the Family, NyeF. I. (ed.), Sage, Beverly Hills, California, pp. 61–69, 1976.
33.
CohlerB. J. and GrunebaumH. U., Mothers, Grandmothers, and Daughters: Personality and Childcare in Three-Generation Families, John Wiley, New York, 1981.
34.
TrollL. and BengtsonV. L., Generations in the Family, in Contemporary Theories about the Family, Vol. I: Research-Based Theories, BurrW. R.HillR.NyeF. I., and ReissI. (eds.), Macmillan, New York, 1979.
35.
HarveyJ. H.WeberA. L., and OrbuchT. L., Interpersonal Accounts: A Social Psychological Perspective, Basil Blackwell, Oxford, United Kingdom, 1990.
36.
MettsS.SprecherS., and CupachW. R., Retrospective Self-Reports, in Studying Interpersonal Interaction, MontgomeryB. M. and DuckS. (eds.), Guilford Press, New York, pp. 162–178, 1991.
37.
HarreR. and SecordP. F., The Explanation of Social Behavior, Littlefield, Adams, Totowa, New Jersey, 1973.
38.
HartshorneT. S. and ManasterG. J., The Relationship with Grandparents: Contact, Importance, and Role Conception, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 15, pp. 233–245, 1982.
