Grieving a Grandparent: The Importance of Gender and Multigenerational Relationships. Issue 3 (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stokes, Jeffrey E.; Kim, Yijung K.; Kim, Kyungmin; Fingerman, Karen L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of marriage and family. Volume 83:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 754
• Page End: 768
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: adult grandchildren -- bereavement -- grandparent death -- grief -- intergenerational; Family -- Periodicals; Marriage -- Periodicals; 306.805
• DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2445

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This study examined adult grandchildren's experience of losing a grandparent in the context of a multigenerational family. Background: Although the death of a grandparent in adulthood is often an expected life event, this loss may still result in grief for adult grandchildren. Furthermore, bereavement is not merely an individual experience, but a family one. Characteristics of the relationship between bereaved adult grandchildren and their bereaved middle‐generation parents may influence adult grandchildren's grief responses. This includes both structural (e.g., gender of parent; coresidence with parent) and emotional (e.g., relationship quality; worry about parent) aspects of this tie. Method: Young adult grandchildren from Wave 2 of the Family Exchanges Study (2013, N = 204) reported on their recent grandparent loss experiences ( N = 216) and relationships with their middle‐generation parents ( N = 142). Results: Three‐level multilevel models revealed that (a) grandsons who lost a grandmother reported significantly fewer grief symptoms than all other gender combinations; (b) worry about a middle‐generation parent was associated with higher grief symptoms, but; (c) this effect was significantly stronger when the middle‐generation parent was a mother, and when adult grandchildren were coresident with that bereaved parent. Finally, relationship quality with the middle‐generation parent was not associated with grief symptoms, irrespective of context. Conclusion: Results highlight the intersection of emotional and structural aspects of multigenerational relationships following the death of a family member.