Perceptions of custodial grandparents among young adults

Abstract

This study's purpose was to investigate young adults' perceptions of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Over 1,200 young adult volunteers (M age = 21) read a randomly assigned scenario describing a grandparent raising a grandchild. Scenarios varied in terms of grandchild gender, grandparent ethnicity, the presence/absence of grandchild problems, and the reason for the assumption of the grandparent caregiving role. Results suggested that perceptions of custodial grandparents varied across reason for role assumption, wherein the most negative perceptions were tied to less socially acceptable circumstances for the assumption of the grandparent role (e.g., child abuse, drug abuse, abandonment). In addition, perceptions varied in terms of whether the grandparent was raising a problematic child. These data suggest that in varying degrees young adults may perceive custodial grandparents differently dependent on the life circumstances of the grandparent.