A Multinational Comparison of Grandchildren’s Received Affection from Their Grandparents

This study sought to address the need for systematic, quantitative cross-cultural comparisons to extend our knowledge of the interplay between cultural backgrounds and human behaviors. Specifically, in this study, we compared young adult Danish, Icelandic, Polish, and American grandchildren’s reports of received affection from their grandparents. The participants (N = 606) completed the Grandchildren’s Received Affection Scale. Results of a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed significant cultural differences in grandchildren’s reports of received affection from their grandparents. Thus, this study extends our understanding of how communicative behaviors differ across cultures; it is also indicative of practical, methodological, and empirical implications.