"Confidants, negotiators, and stress buffers": New Zealand grandparents talk about grandparenthood

Abstract

As the population of New Zealand ages, there is a growing interest in the many dimensions of later life. One of these dimensions is grandparenting. Although grandparenting and grandparenthood has been the focus of overseas studies, very little research has been done within New Zealand. Previous studies have identified the roles, styles and meanings of grandparenthood, and recently there has been considerable research interest in caregiving grandparents. This thesis examines what it means to be a contemporary New Zealand grandparent, including differences between grandmothers and grandfathers, and grandparent-like roles in the community. Social change and the corresponding effects on families have influenced much of the 'taken-for-granted' in interpersonal relationships, one of these being grandparent-grandchild relationships. Numerous factors have contributed to grandparents being required to renegotiate the parameters of grandparenting, and this has impacted greatly on their expectations of this role, as well as its function and practice. This qualitative analysis used secondary source research, and the data from twenty-two participants in three focus groups—grandmother only, grandfather only, and grandparent couples—to explore and examine the experience of New Zealand grandparents. An analysis of the data identified that New Zealand grandparenthood can be described as one of continuity and change. The study found many similarities with previous research, and some subtle changes. Grandparents were negotiators, negotiating with others for time with their grandchildren, and also negotiating relationships with other kin. They were family stabilisers, particularly during times of crisis, and their relationship with grandchildren was mediated, by a number of factors, such as the parents, and geographic proximity. There were many gender similarities, but also some differences. A key difference was the impact of social attitudes on grandfathers relating freely to their grandchildren. Finally, grandmothers particularly saw themselves as having a community role with young children, and while grandfathers also wanted involvement, they were not able to achieve this as easily as grandmothers.