We have all moved on’

How grandparents cope with their adult child’s relationship breakdown

Bibliographic Data

ID13009376
AuthorsCiara O’dwyer (0000-0003-0961-4482, Trinity College Dublin, corresponding author), Martha Doyle (Trinity College Dublin), Elena Moore (0000-0002-0744-9826, University of Cape Town), Virpi Timonen (0000-0001-7061-3943, Trinity College Dublin)
Year2012
Volume1
Issue2
Pages223-241
Publication date2012-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamilies Relationships and Societies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2046-7435 • E-ISSN: 2046-7443
PublisherPolicy Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1332/204674312x645538
OpenAlexW2334781517
LanguageEN
Citations received4

When a couple separate or divorce, they often turn to their parents for support, both for themselves and for their children. Yet, research examining the experience of relationship breakdown from the point of view of the parents of the separating couple is limited. Using qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with 28 Irish grandparents, this article explores the impact of the process on grandparents and how they negotiated their role throughout and following the separation process. Participants who were more positive about the separation were those who adhered to the norms of obligation, non-interference and non-communication, yet who also managed to subtly interpret those norms in a way that allowed them to renegotiate their role within a changing family dynamic. These findings reveal the complexities of the role facing grandparents, but also highlight the potential for grandparents to play a key role in families affected by separation and divorce

Developmental psychology · Grandparent · Irish · Obligation · Political science · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Law · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub