Grandmothers and Their Granddaughters

ABSTRACT

The present study applied Weiss's theoretical framework to better understand interpersonal relationships between grandmothers and their young adult granddaughters. The questions that were of primary focus for the research addressed importance of the relationship provisions, predictors of relationship satisfaction, and variability in importance of closeness and instrumental support. The sample consisted of 48 grandmother-adult granddaughter pairs where the granddaughter was an undergraduate student at a Midwestern university. The Furman and Buhrmester Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI) was used to examine the relationships between grandmothers and their granddaughters. Grandmothers and granddaughters rated the perceived level of admiration, affection, reliable alliance, and relationship satisfaction higher in their relationship with each other than the other relationship provisions. Reliable alliance was rated as the highest relationship provision for grandmothers and granddaughters with the lowest rated being intimacy. The results of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses show that these intergenerational relationships vary along provisions of closeness and instrumental support when predicting relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that programs designed to link generations of women     

Unexpected Caregiving in Later Life: Illuminating the Narratives of Resilience of Grandmothers and Relative Caregivers through Photovoice Methodology

ABSTRACT

This research study implements photovoice methodology with unexpected caregivers to illuminate the lived experiences of female grandparents and relative caregivers who are raising young children in the later stages of their life. As they enter older adulthood, grandmothers are increasingly finding themselves taking care of their children’s children for various reasons, including, but not limited to, their adult child’s incarceration, mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction, or child abuse or neglect. Informed by various feminist theoretical lenses, we use photovoice methodology to highlight the narratives of resilience and explore the ways in which grandmothers re-conceptualize their roles and identity as an unexpected caregiver and the sources of strength and resilience that inform the ways in which they navigate the various circumstances in their lives.     

Influence of grandmothers on breastfeeding practices in a rural community in Papua New Guinea: A critical discourse analysis of first-time mothers’ perspectives

BackgroundAlmost all babies are breastfed in Papua New Guinea (PNG); yet appropriate breastfeeding practices are not always followed.AimTo explore the perspectives of first-time mothers in rural PNG on how the language and discourse of grandmothers about infant feeding influence their breastfeeding practices.MethodsA critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach was used to theoretically frame the analysis of twenty first-time mothers’ narratives.FindingsAnalysis revealed three themes: (i) prescribed knowledge repository, (ii) social control and dominance, and (iii) disapproval and role conflict, which provides an understanding of grandmothers’ differing views and positions on infant feeding practices and their influence on breastfeeding.ConclusionThis study shows that grandmothers remain influential in infant feeding practices in rural PNG. There appears to be a societal expectation that empowers grandmothers in the maternal decision-making processes regarding breastfeeding practice. Grandmothers’ influence includes the early introduction of complementary foods to infants less than six months old. Interventions aimed at promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding need to include grandmothers.