An exploratory investigation of the interactional patterns of grandparents and college-age grandchildren

A random sample of one hundred-eighty seven college students currently enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (V.P.I. & S.U.) with living grandparents was utilized in an attempt to verify the existence of various styles of grandparenting and to test the relationship between reported grandparenting style and specified variables. Verification of the existence of distinct grandparenting styles was determined from factor analysis of selected item responses. Five distinct grandparenting styles were identified, corresponding to the five styles described by Neugarten and Weinstein (1964). The Formal Style was most frequently identified, however, this difference was not statistically significant at the .O5 level. Grandparent health, as well as sex and sibling position of the grandchild were found to significantly influence the adoption of particular grandparenting styles. Hypotheses pertaining to the influence of kinship and sex of the grandparent were not supported. General patterns and modes of contact between grandparent and grandchild were also investigated.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Management, Housing, and Family Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Management, Housing, and Family Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1977

Author dc:creator

• Britton, Nancy Griffin

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64114

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64114