Ethnic Differences in Grandparent–Grandchild Affectionate Communication

Abstract

Researchers have repeatedly called for more careful attention to how ethnicity and culture influence grandparent–grandchild communication. Using affection exchange theory as our guiding lens, we examined how grandchildren’s perceptions of receiving affection from their grandparents differ according to grandparents’ ethnicity. After controlling for a range of potentially confounding factors, grandchildren of Asian American, European American, and Latina/o American grandparents differed in the love and esteem, caring, memories and humor, and celebratory affection they reported from grandparents. Grandparents’ ethnicity also moderated associations between love and esteem and closeness, as well as between memories and humor and closeness. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are considered.