Grandparental Involvement Patterns in Two-Child Families: Associations With Intergenerational Parenting Stress and Life Satisfaction

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 5:10 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Parental and Peer Influences on Development During the Early Childhood and Adolescent Years (Table 1)

Abstract

Caring for grandchildren is a significant aspect of grandparents' later life. Research varies on how grandparental caregiving relates to intergenerational parenting stress and life satisfaction. This study uses latent profile analysis with 361 participants to identify different patterns of grandparental involvement and their association with intergenerational parenting stress and life satisfaction in two-child families. Four types were identified: the low involvement and low quality profile, the cooperative high-involvement and high-quality profile, the authoritative high-involvement and quality-conflict profile, and the moderate involvement and moderate quality profile. Grandparents with moderate involvement and moderate quality showed lower caregiving stress and higher life satisfaction than other groups. This study explores the diversity in grandparental involvement and enhances our understanding of the diverse associations.

Authors

• Yujia Wu, East China Normal University

• Qiqi Wang, East China Normal University

• Jieqiong Fan, East China Normal University