Social mobility has been extensively documented based on two-generational associations. Whereas a few studies suggest that the approach related to social inequalities should be open to multigenerational associations, the topic of social mobility over multiple generations is still at its blooming stage. Very little is known about multigenerational effects on education in Britain and about empirical evidence of the mechanisms that underlie multigenerational effects. Drawing on the British Household Panel Survey and the UK Longitudinal Household Study, this thesis examines social mobility over three generations in Britain. The central aims of the thesis are to explore direct grandparental effects on grandchildren's educational and class attainments independent of parental influences. In particular, it focuses on mechanisms through which grandparental effects operate. The thesis finds that grandparental class is significantly associated with grandchildren's educational achievement, despite parental class, parental education, and parental wealth being taken into account. Regarding the mechanisms, the evidence suggests first that the impacts of grandparental class on education remain even though grandparents have passed away at the time of the survey, and second that the impacts disappear only when grandparents have only infrequent contact with the family. Furthermore, I find that grandparental effects are significantly stronger on grandchildren originating from advantaged parents than on those from disadvantaged parents, indicating the strong persistence of inequalities at the top of social stratification. The research also highlights significant, albeit modest, effects of grandparental class on grandchildren's class attainment over and above parental influences. For grandsons, maternal grandparental class still matters even after grandsons' education has been controlled for. In particular, self-employed grandparents have a strong impact on grandsons' likelihood of engagement in self-employment, a pattern that holds true even when parents are not self-employed. For granddaughters, neither paternal nor maternal grandparental class is found to have a direct substantial impact on granddaughters' class after granddaughters' education has been controlled for. The thesis suggests that the conventional social mobility approach based on parentchild associations may overestimate the effects of parental characteristics and underestimate the effects of family origins. Family advantages run deep; they are maintained over generations in Britain.

This study explores the experiences of Hispanic grandmothers who are parenting a second time around. This study looked at the strengths, needs, services, within their kinship arrangements. Child welfare workers could gain an in-depth understanding in cultural context that could influence their practice and service delivery.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is increasing with immense influence and pressure on the grandparents as primary caregivers and the main supporters of orphans in families. The grandparents are faced with biophysical, socio–economic and psychosocially challenges and lack of support from the community of Koster in the North–West Province of South Africa. Caring for AIDS orphans who have lost their parents due to AIDS and of whom some are infected is an enormous challenge. There should be a partnership between the grandparents, the community, public sector and private sector to assist the grandparents who care for AIDS orphans. Therefore, there are recommendations made by the researcher as tools for health–care workers in order to support the grandparents as they care for AIDS orphans. The objectives of this research were to explore and describe challenges faced by the grandparents in caring for AIDS orphans in Koster, and how their needs could be met by making recommendations for effective support of the grandparents. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used which enabled the research to understand the challenges faced by grandparents in caring for AIDS orphans and how their needs could be met. Semi–structured interviews were conducted to obtain the data. The population studied in this research consisted of the grandparents caring for AIDS orphans in Koster in the North–West Province, South Africa. Voluntary purposive sampling was used to select participants with the assistance of mediators who are working for the Non– Government Organizations dealing with HIV and AIDS in Koster. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after 15 interviews. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection. In consensus discussions, the researcher and the co–coder reached consensus on the main, sub and further sub–categories. From the research findings, four main categories were identified namely; the challenges faced by the grandparents, perceptions of the grandparents on how their need could be met, the impact of the challenge and coping mechanisms. It could be concluded that the grandparents are faced with diverse challenges in caring for AIDS orphans. In order to address these challenges the community and government must be fully involved. The basic, psychosocial, socio–economic and biophysical needs can be addressed through support system. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is increasing with immense influence and pressure on the grandparents as primary caregivers and the main supporters of orphans in families. The grandparents are faced with biophysical, socio–economic and psychosocially challenges and lack of support from the community of Koster in the North–West Province of South Africa. Caring for AIDS orphans who have lost their parents due to AIDS and of whom some are infected is an enormous challenge. There should be a partnership between the grandparents, the community, public sector and private sector to assist the grandparents who care for AIDS orphans. Therefore, there are recommendations made by the researcher as tools for health–care workers in order to support the grandparents as they care for AIDS orphans. The objectives of this research were to explore and describe challenges faced by the grandparents in caring for AIDS orphans in Koster, and how their needs could be met by making recommendations for effective support of the grandparents. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used which enabled the research to understand the challenges faced by grandparents in caring for AIDS orphans and how their needs could be met. Semi–structured interviews were conducted to obtain the data. The population studied in this research consisted of the grandparents caring for AIDS orphans in Koster in the North–West Province, South Africa. Voluntary purposive sampling was used to select participants with the assistance of mediators who are working for the Non– Government Organizations dealing with HIV and AIDS in Koster. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after 15 interviews. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection. In consensus discussions, the researcher and the co–coder reached consensus on the main, sub and further sub–categories. From the research findings, four main categories were identified namely; the challenges faced by the grandparents, perceptions of the grandparents on how their need could be met, the impact of the challenge and coping mechanisms. It could be concluded that the grandparents are faced with diverse challenges in caring for AIDS orphans. In order to address these challenges the community and government must be fully involved. The basic, psychosocial, socio–economic and biophysical needs can be addressed through support system. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Carolyn J. Rosenthal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 218-226). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.C.J.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 77 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: This study examines long-distance relationships between grandparents and their adolescent grandchild through the qualitative identification and analysis of relational turning points and trajectories. A sample of 30 grandparents yielding 99 individual turning points allowed for an in-depth understanding of these relational constructs that previous research neglects to explore from the perspective of a grandparent. A constant comparative analysis of these turning points reveals 8 distinct categories of relational turning points including Spending Time Together, Family Relational Dynamics, Geographic Distance, Lack of Relational Investment, Use of Technology, Relational Investment, Lack of Free Time, and Grandchild Gaining Independence. These turning points vary in how they positively or negatively impact relational closeness between participants and their grandchildren. The use of Retrospective Interview Technique (RIT) yields 30 individual relational trajectory graphs categorized into five trajectories including Decrease in Closeness, Increase in Closeness, Multidimensional Changes in Closeness, Minimal Changes in Closeness, and Consistent Relational Closeness. Results provide theoretical contributions to aging and family literature as well as practical findings pertaining to current and future grandparents. These implications as well as suggestions for future research are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Communication Studies 2012