Given the expanding role of today’s grandparent within the family, this dissertation seeks to explore the diverse range of
grandparenting experiences outside of the commonly studied experience of the caregiving grandparent. Using the 2005-2006 wave of the
Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG), this study explores underlying types of grandparenting, the social factors that predict membership
in the various types, and the association between grandparenting types and subjective well-being. Unlike previous research on non-caregiving
grandparents, this study pays greater attention to potential gender differences in grandparenting experiences and uses quantitative
techniques to explore variation in grandparenting types. In my first set of analyses, I use latent class analysis (LCA) to develop a typology
of grandparents using the following dimensions of grandparent-grandchild relationship quality: distance from grandchildren, frequency of
contact, receipt of support, and emotional attachment. Results reveal three latent classes of grandparents derived from two dimensions of
grandparent-grandchild relationship quality on which respondents vary—distance from grandchildren and frequency of contact with
grandchildren. The three latent classes are labeled Geographically Close/High Contact, Geographically Close/Low Contact, and Geographically
Distant/Low Contact. Results from the LCA show different patterns for grandmothers and grandfathers: The Geographically Close/Low Contact
class is comprised of significantly more grandfathers (70%), while the Geographically Close/High Contact class and the Geographically
Distant/Low Contact class are made up of mostly grandmothers (60%; 61%). I then test if various social factors—including age, gender, number
of grandchildren, education, and household income—predict probability of membership in the three grandparenting categories. Surprisingly,
gender does not emerge as a significant predictor in the multivariate analyses. However, highlighting the importance of socioeconomic status,
household income and education are significantly associated with membership in two of the grandparenting categories: Geographically
Close/High Contact and Geographically Distant/Low Contact. Grandparents with higher household incomes have a lower probability of belonging
to the Geographically Distant/Low Contact class (p<.05) and a higher probability of belonging to the Geographically Close/High Contact
class (p<.01), while grandparents who have attended or graduated from college have a lower probability of belonging to the Geographically
Distant/Low Contact class (p<.01). In the second set of analyses, I examine the association between grandparenting type and two measures
of subjective well-being: depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Suggesting some evidence of variation in well-being across the different
grandparenting categories, Geographically Close/High Contact grandparents report the highest levels of subjective well-being, while
Geographically Close/Low Contact grandparents report the lowest levels. However, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression results surprisingly
reveal no significant relationship between grandparenting category and either measure of well-being. Taken together, this study builds on
previous work by developing a quantitative typology of grandparenting, investigating the social factors that predict membership in the
resulting grandparenting types, and examining the association between grandparenting type and subjective well-being. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2017. / November 13, 2017. / aging, family, gender, grandchildren, grandparenting, grandparents / Includes bibliographical references. / Anne E. Barrett, Professor Directing Dissertation; Marsha Rehm, University Representative; Miles G.
Taylor, Committee Member; Koji Ueno, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_604971 |
| Contributors | Gunderson, Justine Amanda (author), Barrett, Anne E., 1971- (professor directing dissertation), Rehm, Marsha Lynn (university representative), Taylor, Miles G., 1976- (committee member), Ueno, Koji (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (degree granting college), Department of Sociology (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (94 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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