Great-Grandparents’ Role Perception and Its Contribution to Their Quality of Life

Abstract

The study examined the perception of role among 103 great-grandparents in Israel and its contribution to their quality of life. In line with the hypotheses, findings have shown that when great-grandparenting was experienced as meaningful and as important to keeping the family together, it increased the motivation for making a greater personal investment in the role. With regard to contact with a specific great-grandchild, the results revealed that the emotional closeness dimension was a mediator between the behavioral dimension and quality of life of great-grandparents. In addition, married great-grandmothers who lived close to their great-grandchildren had frequent contact with them. Research results highlight the practical need to encourage direct relationships between the two generations.