1. A Case for the Importance of Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships in young adulthood

2. With entry into adulthood….  relationships with significant others outside the family assume increased importance for most young adults  Often increases in physical distance between young adults and their grandparents (I.e., leave home)  grandchildren typically acquire the freedom to identify the boundaries and the borders of relationships with their grandparents  relationships with significant others outside the family assume increased importance for most young adults  Often increases in physical distance between young adults and their grandparents (I.e., leave home)  grandchildren typically acquire the freedom to identify the boundaries and the borders of relationships with their grandparents

6. Boon & Brussoni (1996)  73% emotionally close  More frequent contact and greater value placed on contact  Wider array of shared activities and perceived benefits  High(er) levels of perceived influence  73% emotionally close  More frequent contact and greater value placed on contact  Wider array of shared activities and perceived benefits  High(er) levels of perceived influence

7. With entry into adulthood….  Changes in/challenges to a grandparent’s health may form an increasingly important part of the backdrop of the grandparent- grandchild relationship as grandchildren age  Physical and cognitive changes associated with aging  Chronic illness/disability  Depression/anxiety  Changes in/challenges to a grandparent’s health may form an increasingly important part of the backdrop of the grandparent- grandchild relationship as grandchildren age  Physical and cognitive changes associated with aging  Chronic illness/disability  Depression/anxiety

8. Research Question  Do conditions that affect grandparents’ health also affect their young adult grandchildren??

9. Boon & Shaw (2007)  153 undergraduates  with one or more grandparents living with physical, cognitive or psychological impairment  57% emotionally close  153 undergraduates  with one or more grandparents living with physical, cognitive or psychological impairment  57% emotionally close

10. Wide range of impairments  Physical impairments  Visual (71.3%)  High blood pressure/stroke (62.7%)  Arthritis/rheumatism (58.7%)  Auditory (55.3%)  Digestive problems (38.3%)  Cognitive impairments (due to)  Medication (32.0%)  Stroke (15.5%)  Senile dementia (13.7%)  Alzheimer’s disease (7.5%)  Depression/Anxiety (37.6)  Physical impairments  Visual (71.3%)  High blood pressure/stroke (62.7%)  Arthritis/rheumatism (58.7%)  Auditory (55.3%)  Digestive problems (38.3%)  Cognitive impairments (due to)  Medication (32.0%)  Stroke (15.5%)  Senile dementia (13.7%)  Alzheimer’s disease (7.5%)  Depression/Anxiety (37.6)

11. Worries/apprehensions Source/nature%Mean (SD) May die in near future95.04.77 (1.52) Unable to care for self83.24.56 (1.63) Is/Will be lonely80.04.93 (1.76) Is/will be depressed76.34.45 (1.66) Loss of contact65.24.63 (1.76) Lack desire to care for self54.73.73 (1.54) Financial exploitation54.04.49 (1.68) Getting lost50.73.89 (1.69) Going to a nursing home50.73.51 (1.57) Exploited emotionally50.43.91 (1.84) Will forget who I am39.94.49 (1.87) Physically exploited33.14.02 (1.89) Overall-4.28 (1.17)

12. Impact on Own Life Area affected%Mean (SD) Thoughts about aging85.44.04 (1.67) Family cohesiveness78.85.05 (1.43) Thoughts about own health76.84.46 (1.42) Way you look at the world71.04.69 (1.35) Plans for the future51.74.82 (1.21) Time commitments48.34.50 (1.13) Grandparent support/companionship48.33.98 (1.31) Others’ support/companionship31.84.06 (1.06) Financial constraints27.23.91 (0.92) Overall-4.39 (0.79)

13. Visiting ( N =132 ) Reason FOR%Reason NOT% Enjoyment84.1Time constraints71.7 Time left together72.0Geographical distance60.1 Social support (GP)51.5Emotional distance18.1 Obligation41.7Deteriorated health11.6 Family pressure29.5Loss of contact6.5 Social support (self)20.5Financial constraints3.6 Guilt13.6Not enjoy gp’s company2.2 Holidays/vacations8.3Guilt2.2 Financial rewards (self) 4.5Gp doesn’t know/remember you 1.4 Family gatherings4.5Family disowned0.7 Family difficulties (divorce/remarriage) 3.0Impairment too severe0.0 Financial rewards (GP)0.0

14. Changing Demographics  Older adults in western nations are living longer than ever before  Substantially greater opportunities for grandchildren and grandparents to build and maintain relationships  Increased opportunity for grandparent health to impact these relationships AND for these relationships to impact grandparent health  Older adults in western nations are living longer than ever before  Substantially greater opportunities for grandchildren and grandparents to build and maintain relationships  Increased opportunity for grandparent health to impact these relationships AND for these relationships to impact grandparent health

15. Conclusions  Many young adults experience relationships with their “closest” grandparents as influential and emotionally satisfying bonds

16. The Good News…  At least until it reaches a certain threshold of severity, a grandparent’s diminished or declining health may have relatively little NEGATIVE impact on the grandparent- grandchild relationship

17. Nevertheless  practitioners and policy makers would be well advised to consider how impairments to elder family members’ health may affect relations with grandchildren

18. Special Thanks to Mariana Brussoni Megan Shaw Mariana Brussoni Megan Shaw