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Grandparents today: a demographic profile
1Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0090, USA. maxres@visi.net
The Gerontologist
|March 21, 1998
Summary
Grandparenting varies significantly by gender and race, showing diverse family roles beyond traditional expectations. Modern grandparenthood involves complex dynamics, including surrogate parenting and stepgrandparents.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Grandparenthood is a significant life stage with evolving societal roles.
- Previous research offers limited insight into the heterogeneity of modern grandparenting experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive demographic profile of grandparents.
- To examine key dimensions of grandparenthood, including survival, timing, involvement, surrogate parenting, and stepgrandparents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Survey of Families and Households.
- Analyzed demographic characteristics and involvement patterns of grandparents.
Main Results:
- Significant heterogeneity observed among grandparents based on gender and race/ethnicity.
- Identified variations in grandparental involvement, timing, and roles, including surrogate parenting and stepgrandparenting.
Conclusions:
- Modern grandparenthood is characterized by considerable diversity.
- Findings necessitate revisions to existing conceptualizations of grandparenthood.