Adult Grandchildren's Views on Grandmothers' Favoritism
Author Information
Author(s): Ogle Destiny, Suitor J Jill, Gilligan Megan, Kincaid Reilly
Primary Institution: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Hypothesis
Adult grandchildren perceive favoritism and disfavoritism from their grandmothers similarly to how adult children perceive it from their parents.
Conclusion
Adult grandchildren are likely to perceive favoritism and disfavoritism from their grandmothers, influenced by factors such as birth order and contact frequency.
Supporting Evidence
- Eighty percent of grandchildren felt their grandmothers were closest to certain grandchildren.
- Sixty-four percent perceived conflict with specific grandchildren.
- First-born grandchildren and those in greater contact with grandmothers were more likely to feel favored.
- Unmarried grandchildren who did not share values with grandmothers reported more conflict.
Takeaway
This study shows that grandkids notice if their grandmas have favorites, just like kids notice if their parents do.
Methodology
Mixed-methods data collected from adult grandchildren nested within families.
Participant Demographics
On average, grandchildren were 28 years old and grandmothers were 92 years old.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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