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The effect of grandparenting on intergenerational solidarity: A focus group study
Author(s)
Date Issued
2026
Publisher
Hong Kong : Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Citation
Lam, G. (2026). The effect of grandparenting on intergenerational solidarity: A focus group study. In Hong Kong Shue Yan University (Ed.). Conference proceeding of international conference on human resilience: Navigating life changes & challenges (HRCONF2026). International Conference on Human Resilience: Navigating Life Changes & Challenges (HRCONF2026), Hong Kong Shue Yan University (pp. 55). Hong Kong Shue Yan University.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Hong Kong is characterized as three unique features, including a hybrid of traditional and modern values, a change in the population and household structure and a dilemma between
high prevalence of grandparenting and ambivalent attitude of grandparenting. Under this unique socio-cultural context, it is imperative to examine whether and how grandparenting
strengthens intergenerational solidarity (i.e. the sentiments and behaviors that link family members across generations) instead of treating its effect of grandparenting as an isolated part in the family system. The study conducted 6 focus groups with 38 grandparents aged between 55 to 85 with the current or previous experience of taking care of grandchildren in four neighborhood elderly centers. A deductive thematic analysis was conducted with NVivo 15. The study found that grandparenting is the combined result of structural solidarity (i.e., geographical proximity), associational solidarity (i.e., contacts and activities among family members) and functional solidarity (i.e., autonomy given by adult children to
parents of taking care of grandchildren). The intergenerational solidarity hence affects grandparents to have three distinct values associated with grandparenting, including neutral, negative values and positive values. The key to differentiating these three groups of grandparents lies at the core heart of affectual solidarity (i.e. how the grandparents can build strong emotional bonding with their grandchildren) and normative solidarity (i.e. how the grandparents adhere to familial norms and normative culture). Moreover, generativity as the initiatives to learn new things manifests in the form of family adaptative strategy to foster functional solidarity, which can enhance the values of grandparenting as well. The study bears practical implications at both short- and long-term levels under the residual welfare model and meagre childcare services, such as how to foster the intergenerational relation between grandparents, adult children and grandchildren.
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