In:
Family Relations, Wiley, Vol. 68, No. 4 ( 2019-10), p. 484-499
Abstract:
To understand how, and under what conditions, stepgrandchildren build and maintain familial ties with inherited stepgrandparents, using symbolic interaction theory as a lens. Background High rates of divorce and remarriage coupled with increases in longevity suggest that more children have stepgrandparent relationships than ever before. Stepgrandparents, who are the parents of a stepparent (i.e., inherited stepgrandparents), have been hypothesized to play key roles in shaping stepfamily life, but little is known about how stepgrandchildren develop close, family‐like intergenerational steprelationships after a parent's remarriage. Method Forty‐three adult stepgrandchildren (15 men, 28 women) were interviewed about their relationships with 131 inherited stepgrandparents. Grounded theory procedures were used to collect and analyze the data. Results Four key processes were identified that served as markers of kinship and facilitated the development of close familial ties: (a) stepgrandchildren feeling affectionate toward middle‐generation stepparents, (b) stepgrandparents engaging in affinity‐building efforts, (c) stepgrandchildren evaluating affinity‐building efforts favorably, and (d) biological parents using age‐effective strategies to facilitate relationship development. Conclusion Stepgrandchildren actively construct their relationships with stepgrandparents using symbols available to them, which are influenced by third parties such as parents and stepparents. When stepgrandchildren claim stepgrandparents as family, they perceive benefits. Implications Intergenerational stepfamily relationships may be valuable resources for children whose parents divorce and remarry.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0197-6664
,
1741-3729
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2019
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2026606-6
SSG:
5,2
Permalink
