Are You My Grandmother?: Constructing and Maintaining Stepgrandparent Identity and Roles. Issue 5 (20th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DeGreeff, Becky L.; Burnett, Ann
• Is Part Of: Communication quarterly. Volume 65:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 603
• Page End: 623
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20
• Subjects: Stepfamily Identity -- Stepfamily Identity Maintenance -- Stepfamily Role -- Stepgrandparent; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1080/01463373.2017.1329218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-3373

Abstract

Abstract : The disruption of the biological family unit due to divorce or separation followed by remarriage or re-partnering has a profound impact on every family member, including extended family members. An individual becomes a stepgrandparent through later life re-partnering, when an adult child becomes a stepparent, or when a stepchild becomes a parent. In order to gain a greater understanding of the communication influencing the development and maintenance of stepgrandparent roles and identity, a qualitative interpretive analysis method was employed as a guide for interviews with 41 adult stepfamily members across two generations of stepfamily membership: stepparents and stepgrandparents.