Grandparent–Grandchild Relationships in Rural China: The Mediating Role of the Middle Generation and the Kinship Status of the Grandparent

Background: Grandparent–grandchild relationships are important in Chinese society, and both the middle generation and the kinship status of the grandparent play an important role in them. This topic has special significance in rural China because grandparents and grandchildren are left behind together by the middle generation who migrates to urban cities to seek job opportunities, and thus they have many opportunities to share family experiences.

Methods:Wave 4 of the Study of Older Adults in Anhui Province of China was drawn for this study. Using a stratified multistage method, researchers collected data from a sample of adults aged 60 and older living in rural townships in Chaohu, Anhui province. The final sample for this study contained 1,982 observations nested within 926 families. The dependent variable was the emotional closeness between the grandparent and each grandchild. The two independent variables were grandparent–adult child closeness and the kinship status of the grandparent (paternal vs. maternal). Hierarchical logistic cluster regression with three models was performed to examine whether the middle generation played a mediating role in grandparent–grandchild closeness; whether paternal grandparent had more effect on grandparent–grandchild closeness; and whether a father's bond with his parents had a greater effect on the grandparent–grandchild relationship than a mother's bond with her parents.

Results:The results showed that the closeness between the grandparent and his or her adult child mediated grandparent–grandchild closeness (odds ratio = 6.226, p < .001). Paternal grandparents reported closer relationships with their grandchildren than did maternal grandparents (odds ratio = 1.521, p < .05). The predicted probability of grandparent–grandchild closeness was approximately 46% among paternal grandparents compared to 33% among maternal grandparents. However, contrary to what had hypothesized, a father's bond with his own parents did not have a greater effect on grandparent–grandchild closeness than a mother's bond with her own parents. The predicted probability of grandparent–grandchild closeness was approximately 38% among mothers who had a close relationship with their parents compared to 34% among fathers who had close relationship with their parents. In addition, grandmothers, grandparents who had fewer functional limitations, grandchildren who had more education, and grandchildren who had been taken care of more frequently by grandparents were significantly more likely than their counterparts to experience grandparent–grandchild closeness.

Conclusions and implications: The findings of the study are in line with family systems theory and the middle-generation-as-mediator theory. They also support the kin-keeping perspective that men can contribute significantly to family solidarity and continuity. The results of this study are important for social workers and family counselors when developing programs and interventions for rural older adults.