INT'L. J. AGING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 6(2),1975
INTERACTION IN THREE GENERATlON FAMILIES, PARENTS AS MEDIATORS: TOWARD A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE'
JOAN F. ROBERTSON, PH.D. School of Social Work University of Wisconsin-Madison
ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the development of a theoretical perspective within which it is possible to empirically define parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren. Using socialization theory and studies conducted by the writer and a colleague, eight independent dimensions of parental mediation have been identified. This makes it possible to develop measurement indices for testing the postulate that parents act as mediators between the grandparent and grandchild generations in socializing both into their respective roles and thereby influencing the nature of their relationship.
Despite the abundance of investigations regarding interactions in three generation families little attention has been focused on the role of parents as mediators between the first and third generations. The one exception [ l ] stems from an attempt to extend and refine a number of studies conducted by the writer and a colleague [2-51. What few inferences one might make regarding the impact of parents in interactions between the first and third generations comes from two types of studies. There are those which focus primarily o n the interactions between adult children and their parents [6-131 and those which stress interactions between grandchild and grandparent as viewed from the perspective of the former [14-181. This research was partially supported by a National Institute of Mental Health Small Grant #18773. This paper was presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society, Miami Beach, Florida, Nov. 5-9,1973. 103
0 1975, Baywood Publishing Co.
doi: 10.2190/GPFM-TFM5-9Y8Y-LHAK http://baywood.com
104 1 JOAN F. ROBERTSON
Ongoing research of the writer and co-investigator examined interaction in three generation families as reported by the grandparent generation. Findings led us to hypothesize that the middle generation conditions to a large extent the nature of the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Stated another way, we would posit that parents socialize both grandparents and grandchildren into their respective roles by making the role available to both. We have found some support for this hypothesis in three other studies. Kahana and Kahana [ 171 , for example, indicate that a child’s relationship to his grandparents is a function of several factors impinging upon him one of which is the influence of his parents in communicating attitudes toward older people and grandparents in particular. In reporting research focusing on the grandparent-grandchild relationship from the perspective of the latter, Gilford and Black [18] attest to the significance of parents in assuming a mediating role between the first and third generations. They conclude that feelings toward kin are transmitted from parent to child imparting a ritualistic quality to the relationship. Further, these feelings persist into the child’s adulthood even when the child has had little opportunity to interact with grandparents. On the other hand, if the grandparent and grandchild have an opportunity to develop an independent relationship, the transmitted feelings may be modified on the basis of their actual interpersonal interaction. A third source of support for the hypothesis that the middle generation conditions to a large extent the nature of interaction in three generation families stems from Lopata’s [19] research on older widows. She speculates that tensions in relations with the middle generation often preclude the possibility of a satisfactory relationship emerging between grandparents and grandchildren. Some older women “bluntly stated that their own children would not let them get close to the grandchildren” (p. 172). The objective of this paper is to report on the development of a conceptual perspective for describing the dimensions of parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren.2 Subsequently, it is intended that this framework will be incorporated into the Robertson and Wood [20] theoretical design which provides a framework within which to identify, explain, and describe a number of significant concepts from which to study the phenomenon of grandparenthood from a three generational perspective.
The Theoretical Perspective Role and socialization frameworks [21-241 provide the most useful perspectives for explaining the role of parents as mediators between the first and tbird.generation~.~ ’ The origjnal ideas for, conceptualization of the dimensions of parental mediation are reported. in Kennedy and Pfeifer (1973). 3-Riley, et. a1 , (1.969) report that their working model of socialization draws its basic concepts “mainly from the work of Parsons and his associates, as this organizes the relevant thinking of such earlier-scholarsas Mead; Durkheim, and Freud and as it relates to the present day thinking of Merton, Cottrell, Brim, Wheeler, Bredmeir and many others (p. 953):’
INTERACTION I N THREE GENERATION FAMILIES /
105
Viewed as a life long process socialization “occurs not only within the individual being socialized, but also between the individual and the more inclusive social systems to which he belongs” [24]. It involves the learning of and enacting roles over the life span in an interaction process. Roles are an integral part of family social structure embodying and reflecting personal and social influences. Learning and performing the expected roles depend not only on a person’s interest, motivation, and capacity to incorporate the role into his self conception, but on social contributions, i.e., “educational facilities and the competence of other members of society to let him know what the role expectations are and how nearly he conforms to them” [24]. Thus, via socialization processes, individuals adopt roles in the context of interaction with the “more inclusive social systems to which he belongs” [24]. Since by definition a social system involves a plurality of persons and an evaluation of the relationships of individual actors toward each other [21], it is possible to describe the parent-grandparent relationship as one type of social system existing within the family which constitutes a sufficient, although not a necessary condition for the development of a significant relationship (a different social system) between the grandparent and grandchild. In order to test the postulate that parents act as mediators between the first and third generation in socializing both into their respective roles thereby influencing the nature of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, it is necessary to establish and describe specific dimensions of parental mediation. CONCEPT, PARENTAL MED IA T ION
The concept parental mediation is explained via eight different types of dimensions believed to be sufficient conditions for socializing both parent and grandparent into their respective roles. Considerable effort has been made to describe this concept and its component parts independent of the concept interaction. Parents perception of significance of grandparenthood. It is speculated that a parent’s view as to the significance or meaning of the role of grandparenthood is directly related to whether or not they encourage interactions between the grandparent and grandchild. If parents view grandparenthood as a role having high personal and social (normative) meaning to them, it is expected that they will be more likely to encourage interaction between the first and third generations. On the other hand, if parents view the role as insignificant or with a modicum of meaning, they would be less likely to stimulate interaction between grandchildren and grandparents precluding the development of any grandparent-grandchild relationship. Parents perception of appropriate grandparent behaviors. While considerable reciprocal aid goes on between the parent and grandparent generation [6], there is evidence to suggest that the flow of this aid goes from grandparent to their child particularly in times of illness, childbirth, or help with personal problems [25].
106 / JOAN F. ROBERTSON
Though grandparents report they engage in 12 different types of behaviors with grandchildren, evidence indicates they actually do so in only 3 out of the 12 behaviors with a high frequency. These are babysitting, home recreational activities such as reading stories, playing games and spontaneous drop-in visits for leisure and fun [3, 261. Thus, while grandparents may desire certain behaviors with grandchildren as reported by their statements that they engage in these behaviors, in reality, they fail to carry through the behavior very frequently. It is possible to infer that one of the reasons for this has to do with their fears that parents may view a high frequency of behavior with grandchildren as meddlesome, intrusive, or inappropriate. It is posited therefore that parental perceptions of the appropriateness of grandparent behaviors with grandchildren is directly related to the frequency of the behaviors between grandparent and grandchild. Parents perception o f initiator of grandparent behavior. In 10 out of 12 reported behaviors with grandchildren, grandparents indicate that they are the initiator of the behavior. The two exceptions, babysitting and home recreation are initiated by the parent and grandchild respectively [3, 261. More important, perhaps, is the finding that the only behaviors that grandparents engage in with a high degree of frequency are those which are initiated by the parent or grandchild. This suggests that parents may affect the frequency of role behavior with grandchildren in that grandparents become involved in only those activities which are sanctioned by parents as indicated by their initiation of the activity. It is hypothesized that parents perceive grandparents as initiators of behavior with grandchildren more than themselves and when this is the case, there is a low frequency of interaction between the grandparent and grandchild. Conversely, in those situations where parents view themselves as the initiator of behavior between the generation, the grandparent engages in a higher frequency of interaction. It is also posited that there will be a significant difference between the parent and grandparent generations as to who initiates behavior with grandchildren. Means of parental medtation. Parents, it is believed, mediate between the first and third generations in a variety of ways. This dimension refers to the form mediation takes. More specifically, what are the means parents use to mediate-setting examples, structuring situations, rewards, persuasion, threats, etc.? We would hypothesize that there is a significant relationship between the form (means of mediation used by parents to influence interaction between the grandparent and grandchild generations) and the frequency and type of interaction between the generations. In those situations where parents view themselves as setting examples, structuring situations, or encouraging rewards, a high frequency of interaction between the generations is more likely to occur. In those situations where parents report no means of mediation, we predict a lower frequency of interaction between the generations.
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Frequency of parental mediation. As a dimension of the mediating role, it is important to assess how often parents mediate and in what situations. A measure of frequency can be used to obtain information as to whether parents view mediation as something they do a great deal, occasionally, or never. It will also give indications about which situations and interactions parents feel are most important for them to mediate. The extent to which parents mediate in conjunction with what situations may reveal something about parental impressions as to the quality of the relationship between the grandparent and grandchild generations. Parental attitude about mediation. This dimension focuses on the value of mediation to the parental generation. How important is it, for example, to parents that they mediate in the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren? This can be reflected, we think, by determining parental attitudes toward the role. Do parents see themselves as influencing the grandparent-grandchild relationship? Or, do they view any attempts on their part to stimulate interaction between the generations as interfering? Different attitudes toward the mediating role may be expected to affect not only the frequency of mediation, but the form of mediation. Some parents, for example, believe that grandparent and grandchild should be left alone to form their own relationship; whereas other parents may feel that they have a duty to see that they have a good relationship. We would anticipate that there is a direct relationship between parental attitudes about mediation and the frequency and type of interaction between the generations. In those situations where parents place a high positive value on mediation, we would expect a higher frequency of interaction. Conversely, in those situations where parents place a negative or neutral value o n mediation, we would predict a lower frequency of interaction. Focus of mediation. This dimension attempts to focus on who parents are most concerned about in mediating between generations-grandparent or grandchild? One would expect that parents would influence the relationship in different ways depending on who the primary focus of concern is. This may also vary from situation to situation based o n other factors such as age, health status, life style. When the grandchild is very young, the grandchild might be the parent's primary concern shifting to the grandparent as the child gets older. On the other hand, if the grandparent is older, in ill health, or if the family has an interactive life style which stresses respect and deference t o elders, the focus may be directed more to the grandparent. It is also conceivable that there are parents who mediate between generations without focusing on either generation. Their concerns may be equal for both generat ions. Equity in mediation. Some parents may view their role as one of maintaining equity between two sets of grandparents and others may not.
108
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JOAN F. ROBERTSON
This dimension is concerned with how parents view their role in relation to maintaining balance between maternal and paternal grandparents. Do parents attempt to avoid having their children relate to only one or the other set of grandparents? Do they feel that this is an important part of parental mediation? If it is important, what kinds of things do parents actually do to assure equity in mediation? If it is unimportant, why? It is hypothesized that equity in parental mediation is directly related to the frequency of interaction between the generations. Parents who view their role as one of maintaining equity between maternal and paternal grandparents are more likely to encourage interaction between both the generations. In those instances where parents place a low emphasis on the equity function of mediation, we would predict a high frequency of interaction between the one set of grandparents which parents stressed over the other and low frequency of interaction with the alternate set of grandparents. In summary, the objective of this paper was to report on the development of a theoretical perspective for describing the dimensions of parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren. This has been accomplished by focusing upon eight different dimensions of parental mediation which we are now in the process of refining. Subsequently, measurement indices will be developed to permit the gathering and processing of data to assess whether or not parents do act as mediators in interactions between the first and third generations. We plan to draw a random sample of the parental generation from the area probability sample of grandparents in our two former studies. The value of this theoretical perspective is, therefore, most appropriately viewed in the context of the ongoing efforts of Robertson and Wood (1973, 1974) to develop a theoretical framework which permits investigation of the significance of grandparenthood from three or more generat ions. REFERENCES
1. Paul Kennedy and Judy Pfeifer, 1973. Parents as intergenerational mediators: A conceptual framework and preliminary interview schedule f o r studying the three-generation family. Unpublished M.S.S.W. thesis, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2. Joan Robertson and Vivian Wood, 1970. Grandparenthood: A study of role conceptions. Paper presented at the 23rd annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, Toronto, Canada, October 2 1-24. 3. Joan Robertson, 1971. Grandparenthood: A study of role conceptions o f grandmothers. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 4. Vivian Wood and Joan Robertson, 1971. Grandparenthood-a significant role to older individuals: Fact or Fancy? Paper presented at the 24th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, Houston, Texas, Oct. 27-30.
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5. Vivian Wood and Joan Robertson, 1973. The significance of grandparenthood. In J. Gubrium, ed., Time, Roles, and Self in Old Age. New York: Behavioral Publications (forthcoming). 6. M. Sussman, 1953. The help pattern in the middle-class family, American Sociological Review, 18: 22-28. 7. H. C. Lajewski, 1959. Working mothers and their arrangementsfor the care of their children. Social Security Bulletin, August. 8. Peter Townsend, 1957. The Family Life o f Old People. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. 9. Michael Young and Peter Wilmott, 1957. Kinship and Family in East London. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press. 10. Reubin Hill, 1965. Decision-making and the family life cycle. In Ethel Shanas and G. F. Streib, eds., Social Structure and the family: Generational relations. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc. pp. 113-139. 11. Ethel Shanas, 1967. Family help patterns and social class in three countries, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 29 (2): 257-266. 12. C. Bell, 1968. Middle-class families. London: Routledge, Kegan Paul. 13. Reubin Hill, et. al., 1970. Family development in threegenerations. Cambridge Mass.: Schenkman Publishing Co., Inc. 14. Lee N. Robins and M. Tomanec, 1962. Closeness to blood relatives outside the immediate family, Marriage and Family Living, 24: 340-346. 15. L. Bekker and Charles Taylor, 1966. Attitudes toward the aged in a multigenerational sample, Journal of Gerontology, 21 (1): 115-1 118. 16. Eva Kahana and Boaz Kahana, 1970. Grandparenthood from the perspective of the developing grandchild, Developmental'psychology, 3: 98-105. 17. Eva Kahana and Boaz Kahana, 1971. Theoretical and research perspectives on grandparenthood, Aging & Human Development, Vol. 2, No. 4: 261-268. 18. R. Gilford, and D. Black, 1972. The grandchild-grandparent dyad:. Ritual or relationship? Paper presented at the 25th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 17-2 1. 19. Helena Lopata, 1973. Widowhood in an American City. Cambridge, Mass: Schenkman Publishing Co., Inc. 20. Joan Robertson and Vivian Wood, 1974. Grandparenthood: A theoretical perspective. Unpublished manuscript, School of Social Work, Univ. of Wisoncsin-Madison. 21. T. Parsons and E. A. Shils, eds., 1962. Toward a general theory of action. New York: Harper Torchbooks. 22. 0. G. Brim, Jr., 1966. Socialization through the life cycle. In 0. G . Brim, Jr. and S . Wheeler, Socialization after childhood: Two essays. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 23. 0. Brim, Adult Socialization. In J . A. Clausen, ed., Socialization and Society. Boston: Littl'e, Brown & Co:, pp. 182-226. 24. M. W. Riley, et. al., 1969. Socialization for the middle and later years. In D. Goslin, ed., Handbook of Socialization theory and research. Chicago: Rand McNally and Co., pp. 951-982.
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25. Ethel Shanas, et. al., 1968. Old people in three industrial societies. New York: Atherton Press. 26. Vivian Wood, 1972. Final Progress Report, Mental Health Small Grant #MH 19773-01. Grandparental Role Conceptions.
INTERACTION IN THREE GENERATlON FAMILIES, PARENTS AS MEDIATORS: TOWARD A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE'
JOAN F. ROBERTSON, PH.D. School of Social Work University of Wisconsin-Madison
ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the development of a theoretical perspective within which it is possible to empirically define parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren. Using socialization theory and studies conducted by the writer and a colleague, eight independent dimensions of parental mediation have been identified. This makes it possible to develop measurement indices for testing the postulate that parents act as mediators between the grandparent and grandchild generations in socializing both into their respective roles and thereby influencing the nature of their relationship.
Despite the abundance of investigations regarding interactions in three generation families little attention has been focused on the role of parents as mediators between the first and third generations. The one exception [ l ] stems from an attempt to extend and refine a number of studies conducted by the writer and a colleague [2-51. What few inferences one might make regarding the impact of parents in interactions between the first and third generations comes from two types of studies. There are those which focus primarily o n the interactions between adult children and their parents [6-131 and those which stress interactions between grandchild and grandparent as viewed from the perspective of the former [14-181. This research was partially supported by a National Institute of Mental Health Small Grant #18773. This paper was presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society, Miami Beach, Florida, Nov. 5-9,1973. 103
0 1975, Baywood Publishing Co.
doi: 10.2190/GPFM-TFM5-9Y8Y-LHAK http://baywood.com
104 1 JOAN F. ROBERTSON
Ongoing research of the writer and co-investigator examined interaction in three generation families as reported by the grandparent generation. Findings led us to hypothesize that the middle generation conditions to a large extent the nature of the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Stated another way, we would posit that parents socialize both grandparents and grandchildren into their respective roles by making the role available to both. We have found some support for this hypothesis in three other studies. Kahana and Kahana [ 171 , for example, indicate that a child’s relationship to his grandparents is a function of several factors impinging upon him one of which is the influence of his parents in communicating attitudes toward older people and grandparents in particular. In reporting research focusing on the grandparent-grandchild relationship from the perspective of the latter, Gilford and Black [18] attest to the significance of parents in assuming a mediating role between the first and third generations. They conclude that feelings toward kin are transmitted from parent to child imparting a ritualistic quality to the relationship. Further, these feelings persist into the child’s adulthood even when the child has had little opportunity to interact with grandparents. On the other hand, if the grandparent and grandchild have an opportunity to develop an independent relationship, the transmitted feelings may be modified on the basis of their actual interpersonal interaction. A third source of support for the hypothesis that the middle generation conditions to a large extent the nature of interaction in three generation families stems from Lopata’s [19] research on older widows. She speculates that tensions in relations with the middle generation often preclude the possibility of a satisfactory relationship emerging between grandparents and grandchildren. Some older women “bluntly stated that their own children would not let them get close to the grandchildren” (p. 172). The objective of this paper is to report on the development of a conceptual perspective for describing the dimensions of parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren.2 Subsequently, it is intended that this framework will be incorporated into the Robertson and Wood [20] theoretical design which provides a framework within which to identify, explain, and describe a number of significant concepts from which to study the phenomenon of grandparenthood from a three generational perspective.
The Theoretical Perspective Role and socialization frameworks [21-241 provide the most useful perspectives for explaining the role of parents as mediators between the first and tbird.generation~.~ ’ The origjnal ideas for, conceptualization of the dimensions of parental mediation are reported. in Kennedy and Pfeifer (1973). 3-Riley, et. a1 , (1.969) report that their working model of socialization draws its basic concepts “mainly from the work of Parsons and his associates, as this organizes the relevant thinking of such earlier-scholarsas Mead; Durkheim, and Freud and as it relates to the present day thinking of Merton, Cottrell, Brim, Wheeler, Bredmeir and many others (p. 953):’
INTERACTION I N THREE GENERATION FAMILIES /
105
Viewed as a life long process socialization “occurs not only within the individual being socialized, but also between the individual and the more inclusive social systems to which he belongs” [24]. It involves the learning of and enacting roles over the life span in an interaction process. Roles are an integral part of family social structure embodying and reflecting personal and social influences. Learning and performing the expected roles depend not only on a person’s interest, motivation, and capacity to incorporate the role into his self conception, but on social contributions, i.e., “educational facilities and the competence of other members of society to let him know what the role expectations are and how nearly he conforms to them” [24]. Thus, via socialization processes, individuals adopt roles in the context of interaction with the “more inclusive social systems to which he belongs” [24]. Since by definition a social system involves a plurality of persons and an evaluation of the relationships of individual actors toward each other [21], it is possible to describe the parent-grandparent relationship as one type of social system existing within the family which constitutes a sufficient, although not a necessary condition for the development of a significant relationship (a different social system) between the grandparent and grandchild. In order to test the postulate that parents act as mediators between the first and third generation in socializing both into their respective roles thereby influencing the nature of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, it is necessary to establish and describe specific dimensions of parental mediation. CONCEPT, PARENTAL MED IA T ION
The concept parental mediation is explained via eight different types of dimensions believed to be sufficient conditions for socializing both parent and grandparent into their respective roles. Considerable effort has been made to describe this concept and its component parts independent of the concept interaction. Parents perception of significance of grandparenthood. It is speculated that a parent’s view as to the significance or meaning of the role of grandparenthood is directly related to whether or not they encourage interactions between the grandparent and grandchild. If parents view grandparenthood as a role having high personal and social (normative) meaning to them, it is expected that they will be more likely to encourage interaction between the first and third generations. On the other hand, if parents view the role as insignificant or with a modicum of meaning, they would be less likely to stimulate interaction between grandchildren and grandparents precluding the development of any grandparent-grandchild relationship. Parents perception of appropriate grandparent behaviors. While considerable reciprocal aid goes on between the parent and grandparent generation [6], there is evidence to suggest that the flow of this aid goes from grandparent to their child particularly in times of illness, childbirth, or help with personal problems [25].
106 / JOAN F. ROBERTSON
Though grandparents report they engage in 12 different types of behaviors with grandchildren, evidence indicates they actually do so in only 3 out of the 12 behaviors with a high frequency. These are babysitting, home recreational activities such as reading stories, playing games and spontaneous drop-in visits for leisure and fun [3, 261. Thus, while grandparents may desire certain behaviors with grandchildren as reported by their statements that they engage in these behaviors, in reality, they fail to carry through the behavior very frequently. It is possible to infer that one of the reasons for this has to do with their fears that parents may view a high frequency of behavior with grandchildren as meddlesome, intrusive, or inappropriate. It is posited therefore that parental perceptions of the appropriateness of grandparent behaviors with grandchildren is directly related to the frequency of the behaviors between grandparent and grandchild. Parents perception o f initiator of grandparent behavior. In 10 out of 12 reported behaviors with grandchildren, grandparents indicate that they are the initiator of the behavior. The two exceptions, babysitting and home recreation are initiated by the parent and grandchild respectively [3, 261. More important, perhaps, is the finding that the only behaviors that grandparents engage in with a high degree of frequency are those which are initiated by the parent or grandchild. This suggests that parents may affect the frequency of role behavior with grandchildren in that grandparents become involved in only those activities which are sanctioned by parents as indicated by their initiation of the activity. It is hypothesized that parents perceive grandparents as initiators of behavior with grandchildren more than themselves and when this is the case, there is a low frequency of interaction between the grandparent and grandchild. Conversely, in those situations where parents view themselves as the initiator of behavior between the generation, the grandparent engages in a higher frequency of interaction. It is also posited that there will be a significant difference between the parent and grandparent generations as to who initiates behavior with grandchildren. Means of parental medtation. Parents, it is believed, mediate between the first and third generations in a variety of ways. This dimension refers to the form mediation takes. More specifically, what are the means parents use to mediate-setting examples, structuring situations, rewards, persuasion, threats, etc.? We would hypothesize that there is a significant relationship between the form (means of mediation used by parents to influence interaction between the grandparent and grandchild generations) and the frequency and type of interaction between the generations. In those situations where parents view themselves as setting examples, structuring situations, or encouraging rewards, a high frequency of interaction between the generations is more likely to occur. In those situations where parents report no means of mediation, we predict a lower frequency of interaction between the generations.
I N T E R A C T I O N IN T H R E E G E N E R A T I O N F A M I L I E S /
107
Frequency of parental mediation. As a dimension of the mediating role, it is important to assess how often parents mediate and in what situations. A measure of frequency can be used to obtain information as to whether parents view mediation as something they do a great deal, occasionally, or never. It will also give indications about which situations and interactions parents feel are most important for them to mediate. The extent to which parents mediate in conjunction with what situations may reveal something about parental impressions as to the quality of the relationship between the grandparent and grandchild generations. Parental attitude about mediation. This dimension focuses on the value of mediation to the parental generation. How important is it, for example, to parents that they mediate in the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren? This can be reflected, we think, by determining parental attitudes toward the role. Do parents see themselves as influencing the grandparent-grandchild relationship? Or, do they view any attempts on their part to stimulate interaction between the generations as interfering? Different attitudes toward the mediating role may be expected to affect not only the frequency of mediation, but the form of mediation. Some parents, for example, believe that grandparent and grandchild should be left alone to form their own relationship; whereas other parents may feel that they have a duty to see that they have a good relationship. We would anticipate that there is a direct relationship between parental attitudes about mediation and the frequency and type of interaction between the generations. In those situations where parents place a high positive value on mediation, we would expect a higher frequency of interaction. Conversely, in those situations where parents place a negative or neutral value o n mediation, we would predict a lower frequency of interaction. Focus of mediation. This dimension attempts to focus on who parents are most concerned about in mediating between generations-grandparent or grandchild? One would expect that parents would influence the relationship in different ways depending on who the primary focus of concern is. This may also vary from situation to situation based o n other factors such as age, health status, life style. When the grandchild is very young, the grandchild might be the parent's primary concern shifting to the grandparent as the child gets older. On the other hand, if the grandparent is older, in ill health, or if the family has an interactive life style which stresses respect and deference t o elders, the focus may be directed more to the grandparent. It is also conceivable that there are parents who mediate between generations without focusing on either generation. Their concerns may be equal for both generat ions. Equity in mediation. Some parents may view their role as one of maintaining equity between two sets of grandparents and others may not.
108
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JOAN F. ROBERTSON
This dimension is concerned with how parents view their role in relation to maintaining balance between maternal and paternal grandparents. Do parents attempt to avoid having their children relate to only one or the other set of grandparents? Do they feel that this is an important part of parental mediation? If it is important, what kinds of things do parents actually do to assure equity in mediation? If it is unimportant, why? It is hypothesized that equity in parental mediation is directly related to the frequency of interaction between the generations. Parents who view their role as one of maintaining equity between maternal and paternal grandparents are more likely to encourage interaction between both the generations. In those instances where parents place a low emphasis on the equity function of mediation, we would predict a high frequency of interaction between the one set of grandparents which parents stressed over the other and low frequency of interaction with the alternate set of grandparents. In summary, the objective of this paper was to report on the development of a theoretical perspective for describing the dimensions of parental mediation in interactions between grandparents and grandchildren. This has been accomplished by focusing upon eight different dimensions of parental mediation which we are now in the process of refining. Subsequently, measurement indices will be developed to permit the gathering and processing of data to assess whether or not parents do act as mediators in interactions between the first and third generations. We plan to draw a random sample of the parental generation from the area probability sample of grandparents in our two former studies. The value of this theoretical perspective is, therefore, most appropriately viewed in the context of the ongoing efforts of Robertson and Wood (1973, 1974) to develop a theoretical framework which permits investigation of the significance of grandparenthood from three or more generat ions. REFERENCES
1. Paul Kennedy and Judy Pfeifer, 1973. Parents as intergenerational mediators: A conceptual framework and preliminary interview schedule f o r studying the three-generation family. Unpublished M.S.S.W. thesis, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2. Joan Robertson and Vivian Wood, 1970. Grandparenthood: A study of role conceptions. Paper presented at the 23rd annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, Toronto, Canada, October 2 1-24. 3. Joan Robertson, 1971. Grandparenthood: A study of role conceptions o f grandmothers. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 4. Vivian Wood and Joan Robertson, 1971. Grandparenthood-a significant role to older individuals: Fact or Fancy? Paper presented at the 24th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society, Houston, Texas, Oct. 27-30.
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