Thesis advisor: Summer H. Hawkins / Thesis advisor: David Takeuchi / Dramatic increase in the number of people living to old age has led to a higher prevalence of three-generational households during the last few decades. And co-resident grandparents play a more important role in the lives of children as caregivers in three-generational households. However, little is known about the longitudinal effects of co-resident grandparents on grandchildren’s health. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) from Wave I-III, this three-paper dissertation explored the longitudinal effects of co-residence with grandparents on the physical and psychological health of grandchildren in three-generational households across racial/ethnic groups. Paper 1 investigated the determinants of co-residence with grandparents in three-generational households within the family context, showing that co-residence with a grandparent was associated with low socio-economic status for white families, and with family culture for Hispanic families. Paper 2 examined the influence of co-residence with grandparents on BMI trajectories as adolescents age into emerging adulthood across racial/ethnic groups. The results showed that Hispanic adolescents who lived with a grandparent showed significantly slower rates of BMI growth compared to those who have not lived with a grandparent during adolescence. Paper 3 examined how co-residence with a grandparent affects adolescents’ depressive trajectories as they age into early adulthood and whether this relationship varies by immigrant generational status. The results showed that Asian first-generation immigrant adolescents experienced less depressive symptoms than Asian second- and third- generation immigrant adolescents in three-generational households. This dissertation suggested that we attempt to provide intergenerational policies and services to improve the well-being of all family members. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

BACKGROUND: While parents have central influence on children’s eating behaviors, an increasing number of grandparents participate in child feeding. The manner in which grandparents approach feeding young children as well as how that role is negotiated with parents is unclear. The purpose of the study was to explore maternal perceptions of grandparents’ influence on preschool aged children’s snacking and parental authority in child feeding. METHODS: Participants were 55 ethnically-diverse, low-income mothers of preschool children, aged 3 to 5 years. A qualitative design was employed where semi-structured interviews were used to examine mothers’ schemas around child snacks and the context of snacking. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analyses used NVivo 10 to identify major themes using a grounded-theory approach. Participant demographics and household food security were assessed by self-report. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged regarding mothers' perceptions of grandparents. First, many mothers described supportive or positive aspects of grandparents’ involvement in child feeding: 1) building bonds with grandchildren, 2) providing healthy foods, and 3) setting limits. Second, at the same time mother believed grandparents often to be unsupportive partners in child feeding by: 1) offering “junk foods” and 2) being permissive regarding the types, frequency, and portion sizes of snacks offered to children. Third, mothers’ authority in feeding was challenged by grandparents’ approach to feeding children snacks when at odds with the mothers’ the mothers approach. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that grandparents may have important roles in family dynamics around feeding among low-income families with young children. / Urban Bioethics

My thesis deals with three generations living together in families in the context of past and present, with possible applications into social work. It focuses on an intergenerational solidarity and a mutual help among members of three-generational families which are adequate indicators of mutual relationships. Using ideas of Christian ethics and results of sociological researches it tries to answer the question about the importance of three generations living together within a family and using the theory of social behavior it tries to specify bases of three-generational families living together in cooparation with a social worker.