Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / HIV/AIDS is devastating and fatal to working adults in the prime of their lives, thus leaving the responsibility of caring for the orphans to their grandparents. This study explored the experiences of grandparents assuming the role of parenting their AIDSorphaned grandchildren in Lephalale, South Africa. Phenomenological face-face interviews were conducted with ten elderly, black African grandmothers between the ages of 55 and 71. The participating women were self-identified as carers for their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. The challenges the participant grandmothers faced in caring for their grandchildren were identified as the following: recurrent experiences of loss and grief, lack of social support, fear of stigmatization, financial constraints, mental health and physical strain, difficulty in acquiring state social grants, emotional distress, the caring role being divinely ordained and the rejection of orphans by their biological fathers. Recommendations are advanced on the basis of the findings.

There has been an increase in grandparents raising their grandchildren due to parental absence. This family structure has affected urban, single, low income African Americans at a higher rate than any other racial group. Research on grandchildren reared in grandparent-headed families (GHF) states these children are at risk for significant emotional, behavioral, physical problems, and learning disabilities than children living with their biological parents. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of African American grandchildren raised in GHF. Both quantitative and qualitative methodology was used, including individual interviews with 14 African American grandchildren ages 10-16 and their 6 grandparent caregivers, and the completion of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which is a standard psychological measure. Results indicated that although the majority of the grandchildren were content living with their grandparents, they experienced challenges at school, including behavioral issues, low academic performance, and suspensions. Family factors that might affect grandchildren’s adjustment to living in a GHF are discussed, as well as implications for therapists and recommendations for future research with grandchildren from GHF.

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti vaikaičių vertybių sistemos ir iš senelių gaunamo socialinio palaikymo bei tarpusavio bendravimo patirties sąsajas. Tyrime dalyvavo 222 dviejų Kauno rajono mokyklų 11-12 klasių mokiniai (38% vaikinų, 62% merginų), kurių amžius svyravo nuo 16 iki 19 metų. Vertybės buvo tiriamos M. Rokeach (1973) vertybinių orientacijų tyrimo metodika (VOT), suvokiamas socialinis palaikymas iš senelių tirtas socialinio palaikymo klausimynu (The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey; Sherbourne C. D. and Stewart A. L. 1991). Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė egzistuojančius vertybių skirtumus tarp lyčių: merginoms „lygybės“, „laisvės“, „grožio pasaulio“ ir „materialiai aprūpinto gyvenimo“ vertybės yra svarbesnės nei vaikinams. Kiti rezultatai atskleidė, kad dažnas vaikaičių ir senelių bendravimas susijęs su „malonumų“, „pasaulinės taikos“, „grožio pasaulio“, „save kontroliuojančio“, „mandagumo“, „tvarkingumo“, „ambicingumo“, „protingumo“, „socialinio pripažinimo“, „išminties“, „linksmumo“, „laisvės“ ir „išganymo, išsigelbėjimo“ vertybėmis, retas su „tikros, artimos draugystės“, „nacionalinio saugumo“ ir „kūrybiškumo“ vertybėmis. Vaikinų vertybės yra susijusios su suvokiamu instrumentiniu, informaciniu ir emociniu palaikymu tiek iš močiučių, tiek iš senelių vyrų, tuo tarpu merginų vertybės siejasi su suvokiamu emociniu palaikymu iš močiučių, o vertybių ir suvokiamo socialinio palaikymo iš senelių ryšys merginų grupėje nenustatytas. Merginų vertybes prognozuoja... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The present research study examined relations between adolescents’ values, social support from grandparents and dimensions of communication between generations (frequency of communication, grandparents’ gender) in a sample of 222 adolescents (62% female; 38% male) 11-12-grade students of secondary schools in Lithuania. Social support was measured by the Social support questionnaire (The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey; Sherbourne C. D. and Stewart A. L. 1991), values were measured by Rokeach Value Survey (1973). The results revealed differences between the values of the existing gender: female’s “equality”, “freedom”, “the world of beauty” and “comfortable life” values are more important than male. Other findings showed that frequent communication of grandchildren and grandparents related to the “pleasure”, “world at peace”, “world of beauty”, “self-controlled”, "polite”, “tidy”, “ambition”, “intellectual”, “social recognition”, “wisdom”, “joyful”, “freedom” and “salvation” values, infrequent communication was related with “true friendship”, “national security” and “creativity” values. Male values are associated with the perceived instrumental, informational and emotional support from both grandmothers and the grandfathers; female’s values associated with perceived emotional support from grandmothers, relation between female values and perceived social support from grandparents not found. Female’s values predict non-residence along with his grandparent (s)... [to full text]

The composition of society is rapidly changing as the elderly population is increasing dramatically. In South Africa, black grandmothers play an important role in intergenerational relationships as they take on the responsibility of caring for their young grandchildren because of HIV/Aids, migration of the parents or other economic difficulties. As the grandmothers and the children are raised in different time–periods, it can be difficult for them to understand one another. Since healthy relationships with older persons in the early years lead to secure attachments, the relationship between grandmother and grandchild holds serious implications for the development and view of the world of the child. Research of this nature can help to develop healthy connections with a younger generation which again can help older adults to feel a greater sense of fulfilment. In fact, linking older adults with youth can provide advantages for both generations to thrive as people. Understanding the developmental life tasks and cognitive development of the generations can also assist to effectively deal with different perspectives of the interactions and communication processes between grandmothers and their grandchildren, thus helping both generations to thrive as people. Healthy interaction between grandmothers and grandchildren are guided by clear structure, which means that grandmothers can provide a trustworthy and predictable interpersonal environment to assist their grandchildren to define and clarify their experiences, whislt nurturance implies that grandmothers are warm, tender, soothing, calming, and comforting. When engaging with the grandchildren, one can say that grandmothers provide excitement, surprise and stimulation and simultaneously challenge the children which means that grandmothers encourage grandchildren to expand their behavioural repertoire and become more independent. Grandmother ? grandchildren interactions are informed by specific parenting styles which are referred to as a group of attitudes toward children that create an emotional climate in which the intergenerational relationships between the two generations are expressed. The manner, therefore in which grandmothers and grandchildren communicate with each other, as well as the content of the conversations, help to shed light on the nature of the relationship between the two generations. This research aims to gain a better understanding as well as different perspectives of the interactions and communication processes between grandmothers and their grandchildren. A convenience sample was employed to obtain 17 grandparents between 71 and 96 years and older, and their grandchildren in their care, boys and girls between ages 4 and 13 years old. The criterion was the availability of participants on the specific day of data gathering. The intergenerational reflective listening technique (IGRT) was used for data gathering while both generations are present. In terms of the IGRT, the researcher requested the children to sit in an inner circle and answer questions about the important places that their grandmothers tell them about. The researcher also explored the manner in which this information was communicated to the children. As the study involved older persons and very young children, special attention was paid to ethical considerations. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the North–West University, Potchefstroom Campus, as part of a larger project, being: “An exploration of enabling contexts (05K14).” The main finding of the study is that type of information which is transferred from the grandmother to the younger generation is educational in nature with instrumental support as a sign of love and care. The grandmothers teach the children norms, values and life principles. During the younger age, children conform to the teachings of the grandmothers, which evoke feelings of pride and appreciation from the grandmothers. This confirms solidarity in the relationship. On the other hand, the same relational definition does not apply to the young adults and the grandmothers explained their strained relationship with the young adults as out of their control. It is also clear that the way the two generations display love and affection are instrumental in nature. Although the IGRT is considered as an effective method of collecting data of this nature, the limited time available for this study resulted in the collecting of only one data set. One of the recommendations is further study with more than one group of participants. This includes grandmothers with young grandchildren as well as grandmothers with younger adults. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The composition of society is rapidly changing as the elderly population is increasing dramatically. In South Africa, black grandmothers play an important role in intergenerational relationships as they take on the responsibility of caring for their young grandchildren because of HIV/Aids, migration of the parents or other economic difficulties. As the grandmothers and the children are raised in different time–periods, it can be difficult for them to understand one another. Since healthy relationships with older persons in the early years lead to secure attachments, the relationship between grandmother and grandchild holds serious implications for the development and view of the world of the child. Research of this nature can help to develop healthy connections with a younger generation which again can help older adults to feel a greater sense of fulfilment. In fact, linking older adults with youth can provide advantages for both generations to thrive as people. Understanding the developmental life tasks and cognitive development of the generations can also assist to effectively deal with different perspectives of the interactions and communication processes between grandmothers and their grandchildren, thus helping both generations to thrive as people. Healthy interaction between grandmothers and grandchildren are guided by clear structure, which means that grandmothers can provide a trustworthy and predictable interpersonal environment to assist their grandchildren to define and clarify their experiences, whislt nurturance implies that grandmothers are warm, tender, soothing, calming, and comforting. When engaging with the grandchildren, one can say that grandmothers provide excitement, surprise and stimulation and simultaneously challenge the children which means that grandmothers encourage grandchildren to expand their behavioural repertoire and become more independent. Grandmother ? grandchildren interactions are informed by specific parenting styles which are referred to as a group of attitudes toward children that create an emotional climate in which the intergenerational relationships between the two generations are expressed. The manner, therefore in which grandmothers and grandchildren communicate with each other, as well as the content of the conversations, help to shed light on the nature of the relationship between the two generations. This research aims to gain a better understanding as well as different perspectives of the interactions and communication processes between grandmothers and their grandchildren. A convenience sample was employed to obtain 17 grandparents between 71 and 96 years and older, and their grandchildren in their care, boys and girls between ages 4 and 13 years old. The criterion was the availability of participants on the specific day of data gathering. The intergenerational reflective listening technique (IGRT) was used for data gathering while both generations are present. In terms of the IGRT, the researcher requested the children to sit in an inner circle and answer questions about the important places that their grandmothers tell them about. The researcher also explored the manner in which this information was communicated to the children. As the study involved older persons and very young children, special attention was paid to ethical considerations. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the North–West University, Potchefstroom Campus, as part of a larger project, being: “An exploration of enabling contexts (05K14).” The main finding of the study is that type of information which is transferred from the grandmother to the younger generation is educational in nature with instrumental support as a sign of love and care. The grandmothers teach the children norms, values and life principles. During the younger age, children conform to the teachings of the grandmothers, which evoke feelings of pride and appreciation from the grandmothers. This confirms solidarity in the relationship. On the other hand, the same relational definition does not apply to the young adults and the grandmothers explained their strained relationship with the young adults as out of their control. It is also clear that the way the two generations display love and affection are instrumental in nature. Although the IGRT is considered as an effective method of collecting data of this nature, the limited time available for this study resulted in the collecting of only one data set. One of the recommendations is further study with more than one group of participants. This includes grandmothers with young grandchildren as well as grandmothers with younger adults. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo aborda pesquisa realizada com avós que cuidam de netos. O objetivo principal foi entender as considerações dos avós quando lhes são atribuídas a tarefa de cuidar dos netos cujos pais trabalham fora. Para a investigação foi utilizado o procedimento metodológico de grupos focais, precedido de levantamento bibliográfico sobre a temática. O conteúdo teórico explora temas relacionados às mudanças na família contemporânea, às influências das relações intergeracionais e o comportamento dos avós nos dias atuais e em sociedades ocidentais. Nessa temática, a discussão sobre o pensamento de alguns autores sustentou as reflexões alcançadas a partir dos resultados obtidos dos encontros dos grupos focais. Foram realizados dois grupos focais com avós que cuidam de netos nas cidades do Rio de Janeiro e de Niterói. Nos quatro encontros realizados, as avós participantes relataram e debateram temas e situações relacionadas às suas vivências com os netos, trocando experiências e impressões. Os dados obtidos foram tratados por meio da análise de conteúdo e apresentados em categorias elaboradas a partir do referencial teórico estudado. Os resultados alcançados sugerem dificuldades das avós em lidar com a atribuição de cuidar dos netos. Ao final dos encontros, as próprias participantes chegaram à conclusão de que cada uma deve encontrar a melhor forma de ser avó na contemporaneidade, conciliando desenvolvimento pessoal e bom relacionamento familiar. Observaram-se nos grupos as dificuldades das avós ao tratar essa temática nas relações sociais. Evidenciou-se que em países como o Brasil não há políticas públicas suficientes para conduzir as transformações contemporâneas no grupo familiar. Destacou-se também que o oferecimento de grupo focal às avós que cuidam de netos permitiu, além da coleta de dados, a possibilidade da técnica ser um recurso disponível às avós. Ficou evidente que essa técnica auxiliou as participantes a expressarem suas opiniões e promoveu a autoreflexão entre elas. Por fim, o estudo indica a necessidade de se oferecer às avós que cuidam de netos, por meio de políticas públicas ou ações sociais, condições para que possam exercer uma interação com os netos de forma mais lúdica, pautada em valores que as próprias avós consideram primordial na relação com as crianças. / The study examines survey of grandparents caring for grandchildren. The main objective was to understand the considerations of the grandparents when they are assigned the task of caring for grandchildren whose parents work outside. For research we used the methodological approach of focus groups, preceded by the bibliographical survey on the topic. The theoretical content explores themes related to changes in contemporary family, the effects of intergenerational relationships and behavior of grandparents today and in Western societies. On this theme, the discussion about the thought of some authors argued reflections reached from the results obtained with the focus group meetings. Two focus groups were conducted with grandparents caring for grandchildren in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. In the four meetings grandmothers participants reported and discussed issues and situations related to their experiences with their grandchildren, exchanging experiences and impressions. The data were processed through the content analysis and presented in categories drawn from the theoretical study. The results suggest the grandparents difficulties in dealing with the allocation of caring for grandchildren. At the end of the meetings the participants themselves come to the conclusion that each one must find the best way to be a grandmother in the contemporary, combining personal development and good family relationships. It was observed in groups of grandmothers difficulties in dealing with this topic in social relations. It was evident that in countries like Brazil there is no public policy sufficient to drive the contemporary changes in family group. Also notable was that providing a focus group to grandparents caring for grandchildren has allowed, in addition to data collection, the possibility of being a technical resource available to grandparents. It was evident that this technique helped the participants to express their opinions and encouraged self-reflection among them. Finally, the study indicates the need to provide grandparents caring for grandchildren, through public policies and social actions, which conditions they may have an interaction with their grandchildren in a more playful, based on values that their own grandparents consider paramount in the relationship with the children.

Sabe-se que a longevidade humana tem propiciado o aprofundamento e a intensidade do contato entre as gerações. Em nenhuma outra época, as gerações de uma mesma família puderam conviver juntas por tanto tempo como na atualidade. Importa realizar investigações acerca da influência exercida pelos avós na vida dos netos, pois a literatura pouco tem se detido nessa fase do ciclo vital. A presente pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, objetivou investigar a percepção dos vínculos e relacionamento entre netos adultos e seus avós, sendo eles de vinculação paterna ou materna, buscando analisar como se deu este relacionamento ao longo do tempo, influências, frequência de contato e dificuldades encontradas. Os dados coletados resultaram de entrevistas semidirigidas com 14 netos adultos, sendo 6 participantes do sexo masculino e 8 participantes do sexo feminino. As variáveis sociodemográficas caracterizaram os entrevistados como sendo casados, com escolaridade superior, ou superior incompleto, de classe média e tendo entre 21 e 40 anos. As entrevistas foram analisadas de acordo com a técnica da análise de Conteúdo Temática. Os resultados evidenciaram que: 1) os netos à unanimidade, disseram que os avós foram e continuam sendo pessoas muito significativas em sua vida; 2) os avós influenciaram os netos em vários aspectos de sua vida (profissional, religioso, moral, emocional e psicossocial); 3) o relacionamento, em geral, foi percebido como muito bom, a depender da participação e do incentivo da geração dos pais; 4) os participantes realizaram e ainda realizam várias atividades com os avós, sendo o contato entre essas gerações bastante frequente; 5) as dificuldades no relacionamento com os avós estão relacionadas a conflitos existentes entre avós e pais, distância geográfica e envolvimento dos netos no seu próprio processo desenvolvimental; 6) as características mais marcantes transmitidas pelos avós ligam-se a traços de personalidade, momentos de lazer e cuidado, troca de experiência. Espera-se que esta pesquisa possa contribuir com a literatura sobre relacionamento intergeracional e que ofereça subsídios aos profissionais que se dedicam à temática do envelhecimento e da família.

Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2014. / ‘n Verkennende studie met ‘n beskrywende inslag is gebruik om meer kennis en begrip oor grootouerrolle se invloed op kleinkinders wat hul grootmaak se akademiese funksionering en gedrag, te verkry. Verskillende faktore in die hedendaagse samelewing dra daartoe by dat grootouers verplig voel om hul kleinkinders te versorg en groot te maak - hierdie grootouergeleide huishoudings het ‘n impak op die akademiese werkverrigting en gedrag van hul kleinkinders wat hul grootmaak. Hierdie fenomeen is ‘n wêreldwye tendens wat ook in Suid-Afrika voorkom en het saam met die tekort aan literatuur, as motivering vir hierdie studie gedien. Die impak van die grootouergeleide huishoudings op die akademiese funksionering en gedrag van kleinkinders is in ‘n skoolgemeenskap in die Weskus onderwysdistrik, ondersoek. Die doel van die studie is om bruikbare informasie aan grootouers, opvoeders en skooladministrateurs te verskaf sodat meer effektiewe opvoeding en onderrig aan die kleinkinders verskaf kan word.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo aborda pesquisa realizada com avós que cuidam de netos. O objetivo principal foi entender as considerações dos avós quando lhes são atribuídas a tarefa de cuidar dos netos cujos pais trabalham fora. Para a investigação foi utilizado o procedimento metodológico de grupos focais, precedido de levantamento bibliográfico sobre a temática. O conteúdo teórico explora temas relacionados às mudanças na família contemporânea, às influências das relações intergeracionais e o comportamento dos avós nos dias atuais e em sociedades ocidentais. Nessa temática, a discussão sobre o pensamento de alguns autores sustentou as reflexões alcançadas a partir dos resultados obtidos dos encontros dos grupos focais. Foram realizados dois grupos focais com avós que cuidam de netos nas cidades do Rio de Janeiro e de Niterói. Nos quatro encontros realizados, as avós participantes relataram e debateram temas e situações relacionadas às suas vivências com os netos, trocando experiências e impressões. Os dados obtidos foram tratados por meio da análise de conteúdo e apresentados em categorias elaboradas a partir do referencial teórico estudado. Os resultados alcançados sugerem dificuldades das avós em lidar com a atribuição de cuidar dos netos. Ao final dos encontros, as próprias participantes chegaram à conclusão de que cada uma deve encontrar a melhor forma de ser avó na contemporaneidade, conciliando desenvolvimento pessoal e bom relacionamento familiar. Observaram-se nos grupos as dificuldades das avós ao tratar essa temática nas relações sociais. Evidenciou-se que em países como o Brasil não há políticas públicas suficientes para conduzir as transformações contemporâneas no grupo familiar. Destacou-se também que o oferecimento de grupo focal às avós que cuidam de netos permitiu, além da coleta de dados, a possibilidade da técnica ser um recurso disponível às avós. Ficou evidente que essa técnica auxiliou as participantes a expressarem suas opiniões e promoveu a autoreflexão entre elas. Por fim, o estudo indica a necessidade de se oferecer às avós que cuidam de netos, por meio de políticas públicas ou ações sociais, condições para que possam exercer uma interação com os netos de forma mais lúdica, pautada em valores que as próprias avós consideram primordial na relação com as crianças. / The study examines survey of grandparents caring for grandchildren. The main objective was to understand the considerations of the grandparents when they are assigned the task of caring for grandchildren whose parents work outside. For research we used the methodological approach of focus groups, preceded by the bibliographical survey on the topic. The theoretical content explores themes related to changes in contemporary family, the effects of intergenerational relationships and behavior of grandparents today and in Western societies. On this theme, the discussion about the thought of some authors argued reflections reached from the results obtained with the focus group meetings. Two focus groups were conducted with grandparents caring for grandchildren in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. In the four meetings grandmothers participants reported and discussed issues and situations related to their experiences with their grandchildren, exchanging experiences and impressions. The data were processed through the content analysis and presented in categories drawn from the theoretical study. The results suggest the grandparents difficulties in dealing with the allocation of caring for grandchildren. At the end of the meetings the participants themselves come to the conclusion that each one must find the best way to be a grandmother in the contemporary, combining personal development and good family relationships. It was observed in groups of grandmothers difficulties in dealing with this topic in social relations. It was evident that in countries like Brazil there is no public policy sufficient to drive the contemporary changes in family group. Also notable was that providing a focus group to grandparents caring for grandchildren has allowed, in addition to data collection, the possibility of being a technical resource available to grandparents. It was evident that this technique helped the participants to express their opinions and encouraged self-reflection among them. Finally, the study indicates the need to provide grandparents caring for grandchildren, through public policies and social actions, which conditions they may have an interaction with their grandchildren in a more playful, based on values that their own grandparents consider paramount in the relationship with the children.

A contemporaneidade tem como uma de suas principais marcas o excesso de individualismo ou narcisismo. Além disso, traz consigo uma série de transformações nos níveis subjetivo, intersubjetivo, familiar e social, dentre os quais destacamos aqueles sentidos na esfera familiar. O atual avanço tecnocientífico é apontado como um fator de peso nessas transformações, desde o surgimento da televisão até o das mais recentes tecnologias da informação e da comunicação (TICs). Apesar de haver divergências na literatura, frequentemente a população idosa é apontada como prejudicada por esse avanço tecnológico e considerada excluída digital. Ao mesmo tempo, vivenciamos um aumento dessa população e da expectativa de vida, o que levou também a mudanças na função dos avós na família, numa diversidade de possibilidades. Diferentemente da psicanálise tradicional, que teve como foco as dinâmicas envolvidas entre pais e filhos, a psicanálise vincular, referencial aqui elegido, enfatiza aquelas implicadas na dimensão do entre, o que significa uma compreensão sobre a família mais ampla. Investigar se e como a TIC poderia estar influindo sobre o vínculo avós-netos na atualidade, partindo do pressuposto da transmissão psíquica geracional, foi o objetivo desta pesquisa. Para tanto, foi adotado o método clínico-qualitativo e realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas com quatro duplas de avós idosos e netos adolescentes que apresentassem algum contato virtual entre si, totalizando oito participantes; a forma de análise dos dados seguiu o método de estudo de caso. Os resultados encontrados mostraram que cada dupla fazia um determinado uso da TIC entre si, ainda que tenha havido aspectos em comum entre todas ou algumas delas. A inversão geracional e certa desconfiança na comunicação virtual foram duas constantes; bem como a constatação de que o uso que era feito da tecnologia se relacionava com determinadas características da dinâmica de funcionamento psíquico dos sujeitos, do vínculo entre eles ou mesmo da família. Em três duplas observou-se a geração de um efeito paradoxal causado pela interferência da tecnologia, qual seja, o fato de ela propiciar a aproximação entre as partes quando estavam distantes, mas seu afastamento quando estavam juntas, devido ao uso excessivo dela feito pelos netos, que então passavam a dispensar menos atenção aos respectivos avós. Nas duplas entrevistadas, a presença da tecnologia não pareceu comprometer o papel dos avós, uma vez que eles tinham uma posição bastante importante para os seus netos. Para alguns destes últimos, o papel dos avós ainda era visto relativamente a um lugar de saber e de superioridade. Em suma, pôde-se perceber que, em algumas situações, a TIC facilitava o vínculo das duplas e em outras o subtraía, e em outras ainda ela não passava de um mero complemento. Mesmo assim, observou-se que sua influência não tinha mais poder do que o vínculo em si mesmo, este, sim, fator suficiente e determinante para ditar a qualidade da relação da dupla, pelo menos no que se referiu a avós e netos / Contemporaneity has as one of its main brands the excess of individualism or narcissism. In addition, it brought several transformations on the subjective, intersubjective, family and social levels, among which we highlight those taking place in the family sphere. The current techno-scientific progress is key in these transformations, from the beginning of television to the recent information and communication technologies (ICTs). Although literature may differ, often the elderly population is seen as precluded by this technological advance and considered digitally excluded. On the same token, we experienced an increase in this population and a rise in life expectancy, leading to changes in the role of grandparents in the family, in a diversity of possibilities. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, which focused on the dynamics between parents and children, the links psychoanalysis, referential chosen for this work, emphasizes the dynamics involved in the \"between\" dimension, implying a broader understanding about the family. The objective of this research was to investigate whether and how ICT could be influencing the link between grandparents and grandchildren in the current generation, based on the theory of the generational psychic transmission. For this purpose, the clinical-qualitative method was applied and semi-structured interviews were done with eight participants, consisting of four pairs of elderly grandparents and their adolescent grandchildren, both having virtual contact between them; the form of data analysis followed the case study method. The results showed that each pair made a particular use of ICT among themselves, although there have been aspects in common among all or some of them. The inversion of generations and a lack of trust in virtual communication were two constants, as well as the finding that the use of technology was related to certain characteristics of the subjects\' psychic dynamics, the relation between themselves or even the family. In three of the pairs a \"paradoxical effect\" was observed, being caused by the interference of technology, as it would bring the parties closer when they were distant, but set them apart when they were together, due to the excessive use of it by the grandchildren, who then paid less attention to their grandparents. For the interviewed pairs, the presence of technology did not seem to jeopardize the role of grandparents, since they held a very important position for their grandchildren. For some of the latter, the role of the grandparents was still seen as one of knowledge and superiority. In short, it was possible to perceive that in some situations ICT facilitated the bonding process between the pairs, while for others it would prejudice it, and even for some it was only a mere complement. Even so, it was noted that their influence had no more power than the bond in itself, factor sufficient and determinant to dictate the quality of the relationship between the pairs, at least when it comes to grandparents and grandchildren