Contemporary Coresidential Grandparents: Variations by Family Structure, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender

• In Event: 463 - Regular Session. Intergenerational Relationship in the United States

Abstract

The number of coresidential grandparent families experienced a substantial growth following the recent economic recession. Using data from the American Community Survey (ACS), we found that this increase was driven primarily by the rise in multigenerational households headed by grandparents. While the vast majority of grandparent households are maintained by grandparents, great variation in family structure exists by race/ethnicity and nativity, as the rates of grandparent-maintained and skipped-generation households are higher among disadvantaged ethnic minorities and non immigrant families. We also found that African American, Native American, as well as native-born grandparents are also more likely to assume primary responsibility for grandchildren. Part of the racial/ethnic and nativity difference in the odds of claiming primary responsibility for grandchildren is explained by the higher rates of absent parents and economic hardship among these grandparent families. Coresidential grandparents who maintain their households, live in skipped-generation families, and/or experience economic hardship, are more likely to assume primary responsibility for grandchildren. This finding attests to the importance of grandparents as caretakers for disadvantaged children. We also found that although grandmothers are more likely to be coresiding with grandchildren and provide childcare, they are less likely to claim primary responsibility for grandchildren when a grandfather is also present in the household. This result suggests that relying on survey data may underestimate the important role that grandmothers play for American grandchildren.

Authors

• Sandra M. Florian, University of Southern California

• Lynne M. Casper, University of Southern California

• Charles Brady Potts, University of Southern California