The Joy of Grandparenting: A Qualitative Analysis of Grandparents

ABSTRACT: According to Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (Carstensen, 1995), people become emotionally selective as they grow older and therefore choose to sustain primarily their closest relationships (i.e., family relationships), including their grandparent-granchild relationships. Thus, to provide practical suggestions for grandchildren and parents of grandchildren, the purpose of this study was to examine what grandparents (N = 104) find most rewarding about being grandparents. The participants completed a survey in which they were asked to answer the question: “In your experience, what are the best parts of being a grandparent?” The 586 responses were coded in accordance with Braun and Clarke’s (2006) recommendations for thematic analyses, which resulted in five distinct themes: maturation, mutual affection, pride, shared activities, and teaching and learning.