Grandfather Involvement and Adolescent Well-Being in South Africa

Abstract

This chapter examines the associations between maternal and paternal grandfather involvement and the psychological well-being of adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were 380 students with a mean age of 13.98 years, who were predominantly ‘coloured’ (mixed race). Approximately half of the adolescents had weekly contact with their grandfathers, and maternal grandfathers tended to be more involved with their grandchildren than paternal grandfathers. The involvement of paternal grandfathers was not associated with adolescents’ psychological well-being. However, more involvement by maternal grandfathers was associated with fewer emotional symptoms in adolescents, even when the involvement of parents and grandmothers was taken into account. Findings suggest that maternal grandfathers in South Africa are associated with adolescent well-being that is independent of, and different to, the positive contribution of grandmothers.