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Grandparents raising grandchildren : a comparison of parenting styles in different time periods

The purpose of this study was to compare the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting of their children with the parenting style used by grandparents in the second-time parenting of their grandchildren. In addition, a comparison was made between first-time parenting and second-time parenting and the parenting style experienced by these grandparents as children in their family of origin.The Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Questionnaire (GPGQ) was distributed to 505 grandparents raising grandchildren between birth and 12 years old in HARP Grandparenting Support Groups in six states. One hundred fortyfour responses were analyzed at the .05 level of significance measuring the multivariate difference between four parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive, rejecting/neglecting, and authoritative). Ten grandparents were interviewed by telephone.Results1. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting of their own children with second-time parenting of grandchildren was significant. In parenting their own children, grandparents were more authoritarian, more rejective, and less authoritative than they were in parenting their grandchildren.2. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting as compared with their memories of the parenting style used in their family of origin was significant. In parenting their own children grandparents were found to be less authoritarian, more permissive, less rejective, and more authoritative than their parents were.3. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by the grandparents in the second-time parenting of their grandchildren and the parenting style experienced as children in their family of origin was significant. When parenting their grandchildren grandparents were found to be less authoritarian, more permissive, less rejective and more authoritative than their parents were.4. Grandparents reported raising their grandchildren differently from their children (54.1%), the same (33.3%), and 12.5% did not answer the question.5. Grandparents from telephone interviews reported some differences in second-time parenting from the first-time parenting due to available resources, legal arrangements, family issues, understanding of discipline, and the role differences. / Department of Elementary Education

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/176827
Date January 1997
CreatorsHoffman, Nancy J.
ContributorsStroud, James C.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatxi, 192 leaves ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press

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