Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren

 

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Content type
Family Matters article
Published

March 2009

Researchers

Abstract

This article explores the closeness of relationships between grandchildren and their paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as the impact of separation on these relationships, as perceived by the children's parents. The analysis is based on the General Population of Parents Survey (GPPS). The majority of parents described the relationship between their children and their grandparents as "close" or "very close", with relationships with maternal grandparents being more likely than those with paternal grandparents to be portrayed as "very close". Respondents' perceived relationships between their own parents and children differed according to whether they had separated from their children's other parent, and whether they were living with the children. At least half the separated fathers and mothers maintained that the relationship between their own parents and the children had not changed since they and their partner had separated. However, non-resident fathers were more likely to suggest that relationships between their own parents and children had become more distant than closer, while the reverse applied to resident fathers and resident mothers.

This article explores the closeness of relationships between grandchildren and their paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as the impact of separation on these relationships, as perceived by the children's parents. The analysis is based on the General Population of Parents Survey (GPPS). The majority of parents described the relationship between their children and their grandparents as "close" or "very close", with relationships with maternal grandparents being more likely than those with paternal grandparents to be portrayed as "very close". Respondents' perceived relationships between their own parents and children differed according to whether they had separated from their children's other parent, and whether they were living with the children. At least half the separated fathers and mothers maintained that the relationship between their own parents and the children had not changed since they and their partner had separated. However, non-resident fathers were more likely to suggest that relationships between their own parents and children had become more distant than closer, while the reverse applied to resident fathers and resident mothers.

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Citation

Weston, R., & Qu, L. (2009). Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. Family Matters, 81, 58-60.

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