Parents' stories of grandparenting concerns in the three-generational family: generativity, optimism, and forgiveness

Journal of Personality
Michael W PrattShannon Hebblethwaite

Abstract

Adults' level of Eriksonian generativity in midlife has been shown to predict variations in parenting, but there has been less research on its relation to inter generational processes in the three-generational family. As part of a larger study, a sample of 35 Canadian mothers and fathers described a particular, salient child-rearing problem with grandparents when their first-born children were 8 years old. Descriptions were rated for severity of the problem, anger/irritation, optimism about solution, and forgiveness of the grandparent's behavior. Generativity data were collected by a standard questionnaire (the Loyola Generativity Scale of McAdams; McAdams & de St. Aubin, 1992). Results showed few gender differences, though mothers tended to be angrier than fathers with the grandparents. More mature parents were more forgiving than younger parents and saw problems as less serious, as predicted. Finally, parent level of generativity predicted maternal and paternal forgiveness of grandparent behaviors, as well as paternal, but not maternal, optimism about problem outcomes. Parental generativity may thus serve to encourage greater forgiveness and optimism among the generations of the family.

References

Jan 2, 2001·Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)·P Delmore-KoM Pratt
Mar 5, 2005·Journal of Personality·Laura Yamhure ThompsonDanae E Roberts
May 11, 2006·Journal of Personality·Bill E Peterson

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Citations

Jun 16, 2010·Journal of Personality·Keith S CoxDan P McAdams
Sep 7, 2012·International Journal of Aging & Human Development·Katie Ehlman, Mary Ligon

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