A Study of Mutual Support Between Black and White Grandmothers and Their Adult Grandchildren

Abstract

This study reports on emotional and concrete help exchanged between a group of Black and White grandmothers and their adult grandchildren (age 18 or older). A voluntary, non-random sample of 168 older women participated in the study along with 144 of their grandchildren. The grandmother's perspective formed the basis of this study. Geographic distance, the grandchild's kin placement, the grandchild's gender and race had significant effects on mutual support. Black grandmothers received more frequent help from their grandchild and reported a higher level of comfort in asking their grandchild for help. Black grandmothers also reported feeling significantly more burdened by their grandchild's requests for help than did Whites.