Abstract

Improved longevity has provided extended grandparenthood for many older adults. While close grandparent-grandchild (GP-GC) relationships may significantly impact grandchildren’s lives, the extent to which grandparental values are shared by their grandchildren remains unclear. Less clear is whether GP-GC relationships influence grandchildren’s values or in what areas grandchildren share their values with grandparents. This study, based on responses from an Institutional Review Board-approved online survey (N = 470), examined the degree of similarity between grandparents and grandchildren in seven value domains (educational, moral, religious, political, social, leisure, and community). The results revealed that adult grandchildren saw their educational values as most similar to those of their grandparents; leisure and political values were least similar. Also revealed were gender effects; granddaughters more than grandsons perceived that their educational and social values were significantly closer to those of their grandparents. Grandmothers had more significant influences on their grandsons’ religious values than did grandfathers, while grandfathers had more significant influences on their grandsons’ leisure values than did grandmothers. An association between GP-GC closeness and value transmission was found. Interpretations and implications of the findings as they promote active grandparental involvement are discussed.