Adolescent grandchildren's relationships with maternal and paternal grandmothers and grandfathers

The purpose of this study was to specify older adolescents' perceptions of relationships with maternal and paternal grandmothers and grandfathers. Late adolescent college students (n = 142) indicated their relationship perceptions of each available biological grandparent on Furman and Buhrmester's Network of Relationships Inventory. Grandparents were not viewed as major targets of intimacy nor were they reported to be the bearers of instrumental aid. However, grandparents, regardless of kinship status, were still rated as important attachment figures to these older adolescents. In general, granddaughters reported better relationships than grandsons, and grandchildren reported more optimal relations with grandmothers. Implications for future research efforts are discussed.