Forest Fire As a Shared Intergenerational Experience: Perceived Short-term Impacts on the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship

Abstract

Impacted by a forest fire that swept through an American university’s mountain campus were 18 grandparents and 14 grandchildren participating in an intergenerational Elderhostel program. Six weeks after the fire, the grandparents were mailed a questionnaire that included questions about the fire’s short-term impact(s) on their relationships with grandchildren. Almost all of the 13 grandparents who returned completed questionnaires reported that the shared experience of the fire increased the emotional bond with grandchildren. Many grandparents reported that the quality, intensity, and frequency of conversations with grandchildren had increased, especially during the period of time immediately following the fire. Findings from this exploratory study provide tentative support for the observation that grandparents can play critical roles in the lives of grandchildren during times of stress and crisis.