Grandfathers' Perceptions and Expectations of Relationships With Their Adult Grandchildren

Abstract

Combining life course, feminist, and social-constructivist approaches with an inductive qualitative methodology, the authors explored the relationships of older men with their grandchildren. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 men, ranging in age from 59 to 82, who were part of a larger sample of 45 older adult grandparents. From their analyses of the men's perceptions of their family relationships, three main themes emerged: Geographic proximity affected closeness and distance in grandfather-grandchild relationships; challenging family circumstances created situations in which men became more actively involved in their grandchildren's lives; and although grandfathers relied on the traditional male role discourse when describing their family roles and relationships, several transcended traditional expectations for a remote relationship with grandchildren and actively constructed loving, agentic relationships with their grandchildren. Grandfathers' relationships with their grandchildren were continually reshaped as both the men and their family members proceeded through the life course.