Support across two generations: Children's closeness to grandparents following parental divorce and remarriage

TY - JOUR

T1 - Support across two generations: Children's closeness to grandparents following parental divorce and remarriage

AU - Lussier, G

AU - Deater-Deckard, K

AU - Dunn, J

AU - Davies, L

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - There has been relatively little research on the role of grandparents as a source of support for children during and following their parents' marital transitions. In this study, we examined children's contact with and closeness to grandparents in different family types (i.e., two biological parents, single mother, stepparent). Participants included 155 children from the Avon Brothers and Sisters Study. Parent and child interviews and questionnaires regarding the children's relationships with maternal and paternal biological and stepgrandparents were examined. There were family type differences in rates of contact with grandparents as well as children's closeness to grandparents. Furthermore, children's and parents' view about these relationships with grandparents were modestly correlated, suggesting that children often held different views about their closeness to their grandparents than did their parents. Greater closeness to grandparents was associated with fewer adjustment problems.

AB - There has been relatively little research on the role of grandparents as a source of support for children during and following their parents' marital transitions. In this study, we examined children's contact with and closeness to grandparents in different family types (i.e., two biological parents, single mother, stepparent). Participants included 155 children from the Avon Brothers and Sisters Study. Parent and child interviews and questionnaires regarding the children's relationships with maternal and paternal biological and stepgrandparents were examined. There were family type differences in rates of contact with grandparents as well as children's closeness to grandparents. Furthermore, children's and parents' view about these relationships with grandparents were modestly correlated, suggesting that children often held different views about their closeness to their grandparents than did their parents. Greater closeness to grandparents was associated with fewer adjustment problems.

U2 - 10.1037/0893-3200.16.3.363

DO - 10.1037/0893-3200.16.3.363

M3 - Article

SN - 1939-1293

VL - 16

SP - 363

EP - 376

JO - Journal of Family Psychology

JF - Journal of Family Psychology

IS - 3

ER -