Ethnic Group Differences in Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship Quality
Jonathan J. Lopez, Emily E. Stewart, Surina Cardinas, Micah Ioffe & Laura D. Pittman
Northern Illinois University
Background
❖ Over the last few decades the research literature has become more
concerned with grandparents.
❖Grandparents are playing an increasing role in grandchildren’s lives such
as providing childcare, financial, and emotional support (Kemp, 2004).
Analysis
❖MANOVAs were run to compare RQ and level of contact with each grandparent by ethnic
group.
❖To determine significant difference the Least Significant Difference (LSD) procedure was
conducted.
❖Human life expectancy has increased due to improvements in modern
medicine allowing grandparents to have continued contact through the
child’s adulthood (Kemp, 2004). Thus, the grandparent-grandchild
relationship may be meaningful.
❖ Past research has primarily focused on within group differences and
grandparenting roles.
❖Influential and supportive Caucasian grandparents have more contact and
stronger relationships with their grandchildren than passive and detached
Caucasian grandparents (Mueller, Wilhelm, & Elder, 2002)
❖Asian American grandchildren are more assimilated to American culture
than their grandparents creating a larger generational gap and the
grandparent’s primary role is that of a family historian (Kamo, 1998)
❖ Other research has looked at specific ethnic groups in comparison to the
dominant ethnic group (i.e., Caucasians)
❖Caucasian grandparents are less integrated and more likely to help out
financially than Mexicans and Puerto Ricans (e.g., Garcia, 1993; Sarkisian,
Gerena, & Gerstel, 2006).
❖African American grandmothers are more likely to live with and be the
primary caretaker of grandchildren than Caucasians (Caputo, 1999;
Szinovacz, 1998).
❖ Little is still known about variations in grandparent-grandchild relationship
quality (RQ) and frequency of contact across multiple ethnic groups.
Therefore, the current study focuses on investigating whether or not
differences exist.
❖ It was expected that participants from minority ethnic groups such as African
American and Hispanic/Latino, would have higher levels of RQ and contact
than Caucasians and others.
Methods
❖ Data from 731 college students (18-37 years, M = 19.3, SD = 1.84; 54%
female). Students received credit for their introductory to psychology class
for participating.
❖ The sample consisted of 58% Caucasian, 19% African American, 8%
Hispanic/Latino, 6% Asian American, 8% other (e.g., biracial, Native
American)
❖ Participants who had no living grandparents were excluded.
❖ The grandparents reported on consisted of 499 maternal grandmothers
(MGM), 332 maternal grandfathers (MGF), 353 paternal grandmothers
(PGM), and 216 paternal grandfathers (PGF).
Discussion
Results
Table 1
Grandparent Relationship Quality and Level of Contact by Ethnicity
Relationship Quality
Caucasian
Maternal Grandmother (n = 288)
African
American
Hispanic
Latino
Asian
American
Other
(n = 94)
(n = 43)
(n = 34)
(n = 40)
F-ratio
Trust
4.23a
4.11a
4.02ab
3.66b
4.05a
4.16**
Communication
3.05a
3.46b
2.90a
2.73a
3.10ab
4.81***
Alienation
2.12a
2.05a
2.22a
2.41a
2.21a
1.22
Level of contact
5.43a
6.32b
5.77a
5.50a
5.70a
7.73***
(n = 46)
(n = 25)
(n = 21)
(n = 24)
Maternal Grandfather (n = 216)
Trust
4.06a
3.83a
3.98a
3.93a
4.04a
0.71
Communication
2.74a
3.03a
2.94a
2.78a
3.14a
1.43
Alienation
2.21a
2.22a
1.99a
2.35a
1.95a
1.11
Level of contact
4.95a
5.62a
5.09a
5.39a
4.69a
2.11
(n = 54)
(n = 38)
(n = 21)
(n = 23)
Paternal Grandmother (n = 217)
Trust
4.01b
3.67a
3.54a
3.40a
3.81ab
4.18**
Communication
2.84a
2.84a
2.36a
2.72a
2.68a
1.94
Alienation
2.26a
2.46
2.59a
2.39a
2.32a
1.34
Level of contact
4.88a
4.82a
4.74a
5.04a
5.24a
0.52
(n = 146)
(n = 25)
(n =19)
(n = 12)
(n = 14)
Trust
4.05b
3.60a
3.60a
3.42a
3.94ab
2.85*
Communication
2.68a
2.63a
2.57a
2.67a
2.58a
0.09
Alienation
2.23a
2.52a
2.48a
2.60a
1.90a
1.83
Level of contact
4.83a
4.87a
4.60a
5.52a
4.76a
0.69
Paternal Grandfather
Note: Means in the same row that do not share subscripts differ at p ≤ .05.
* p ≤ .05, ** p ≤ .01, *** p ≤ .001
❖ Participants reported gender, age, year in college, and ethnicity on a
demographic questionnaire.
❖ For each living grandparent, participants reported on RQ and frequency of
contact.
❖RQ for each living grandparent was measured using a modified version of
the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA; Armsden &
Greenberg, 1989).
❖Contact was reported by combining eight questions regarding the
frequency of in-person contact and communication across four different age
periods.
❖ Asian Americans had lower levels of trust with MGMs compare to all groups besides
Hispanics/Latinos.
❖ African Americans reported more communication than Caucasians, Hispanics/Latinos,
and Asian Americans. Level of contact was also reported to be higher than all ethnic
groups.
❖ Caucasians had higher levels of trust with PGMs and PGFs than all groups besides
“Other”
❖ Results of the current study revealed that significant differences do
exist for grandparent-grandchild RQ and level of contact across
certain ethnic groups.
❖ As hypothesized, African Americans did have better communication
and greater contact with their maternal grandmothers, but not other
grandparents. These differences might be due to the fact that African
American MGMs are more likely to be the primary caretaker of the
grandchild.
❖ Our hypothesis about Hispanics/Latinos was not supported. This
could result from a smaller sample size. Furthermore,
Hispanics/Latino covers a broad range of ethnic backgrounds (e.g.,
Mexican, Puerto Rican) that differ in culture, which may have been
linked to higher within group variance than other ethnic groups. Our
results on Hispanics/Latino may not generalize to all groups that fall
under this category. Thus, further research looking at specific
Hispanic cultural groups may be important.
❖ Caucasians had higher levels of trust with PGMs and PGFs. Though
level of contact with these grandparents was insignificant these
findings might suggest that Caucasian families are more likely to
have stronger relationship ties with their paternal grandparents.
❖ Grandchildren’s trust with their Asian American maternal
grandmothers is significantly lower. No differences however were
found with communication and level of contact. These findings
perhaps represents the generation gap between grandparent and
grandchild and the role Asian American grandmothers presume,
family historian.
❖ Sample sizes varied greatly based on the type of grandparent and
the ethnic group. Thus, the power to detect differences varied for the
different analyses. If the sample had more Asian-Americans or
Hispanic Americans, additional differences may have been
significant.
❖ These findings are limited to young adults who attend college and
may not represent all young adults for each ethnic group. For
example African Americans who attend college might differ from
those who do not. Future research should explore ethnic differences
of these grandparent-grandchild RQ outside of a college sample.
References
❖ Armsden, G. C., & Greenberg, M. T. (1987). The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment:
Individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16(5), 427-454. doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02202939
❖ Caputo, R. K. (1999). Grandmothers and coresident grandchildren. Families in Society, 80(2),
120-126. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.654
❖ Garcia, C. (1993). What do we mean by extended family? A closer look at Hispanic
multigenerational families. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 8(2), 137-146. doi :
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00971565
❖ Kamo, Yoshinori (1998). Asian Grandparents. In M. E. Szinovacz (Ed.), Handbook on
Grandparenthood (pp. 97-112). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
❖ Kemp, C. (2004 ). Dimensions of grandparent-adult grandchild relationships: From family ties
to intergenerational friendships. Canadian Journal on Aging, 24, 161-178. doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cja.2005.0066
❖ Mueller, M. M., Wilhelm, B., & Elder, G. H., Jr. (2002). Variations in grandparenting. Research
on Aging, 24(3), 360-388. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0164027502243004
❖ Sarkisian, N., Gerena, M., & Gerstel, N. (2006). Extended Family Ties Among Mexicans,
Puerto Ricans, and Whites: Superintegration or Disintegration? Family Relations:
Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies Vol 55(3) Jul 2006, 331-344. doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00408.x
❖ Szinovacz, M. E. (1998). Grandparents today: A demographic profile. Gerontologist, 38(1),
37-52. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/38.1.37
❖ Please contact Jonathan J. Lopez with comments, questions, or feedback about
this poster at z1607645@students.niu.edu or via the Psychology Department,
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.