Great-grandparenthood as a late-life family role: identity and continuity

This article examines great-grandparenthood as a late-life family role that has remained overlooked in gerontological and sociological research. The study draws on life course theory, critical and narrative gerontology, and the concept of doing family to explore how great-grandparents perceive and negotiate this role in later life.

Based on qualitative, timeline-based interviews with ten participants, the analysis applies a thematic narrative approach to examine how meanings of intergenerational connection, family identity, and aging are constructed across the life course.

Findings suggest that great-grandparenthood is rarely recognized as a distinct identity and tends to remain relationally and culturally invisible. The role does not emerge automatically from biological status but is enacted through episodic relational engagement, such as presence, emotional rituals, and shared time. It is also shaped by symbolic recognition within family narratives and generational positioning. Positioned at the margins of family life, great-grandparenthood emerges as a liminal late-life identity reflecting broader dynamics of aging, intergenerational relations, and cultural scripts.

These findings contribute to gerontological debates on family roles and relational aging by highlighting the symbolic and narrative dimensions of very late-life family positions. They also point to the need for future research incorporating intergenerational perspectives and comparative cultural contexts.