Fostering Bonds Across Generations: Exploring Intergenerational Contact, Grandparent Idealization, and Their Influence on the Personal Values and Goals of Young Adult Grandchildren

Abstract

Cultural and societal variables are essential considerations when considering intergenerational dynamics. As a collectivistic culture with widespread multi-generational family living arrangements, a high cultural value placed on grandparents and non-related older adults, and a rapidly aging population, Turkey suggests the possibility of studying aging from a distinct perspective. This study investigated the relationship between intergenerational contact variables (frequency, type, and quality) and grandparent idealization on perceptions of grandparent influence on participants’ personal values and goal preferences. Limited research has been conducted on how intergenerational contact with older adults affects grandparent influence, and thus, this is one of the first such studies. A non-random convenience sampling technique generated a sample of 194 participants with a mean age of 21.6 (SD = 2.79). All measures were translated to Turkish and demonstrated high levels of reliability. Participants reported having frequent and high-quality interactions with older adults. Unlike previous studies, male and female participants reported feeling more emotionally close to their maternal and paternal grandfathers than their grandmothers. Contact quality and extended contact were significant predictors of grandparent influence, a significant finding representing an understudied relationship. A significant interaction between contact quality and ideal grandparent perceptions predicted grandparent influence on grandchildren’s personal values and goal preferences. This study replicated findings showing a significant relationship between intergenerational contact and goal influence (Wise, 2010) and also provided significant contributions to the literature by highlighting how ideal grandparent perceptions affect perceptions of the type of goal influence. Additionally, this study found significant relationships between intergenerational contact with non-related older adults and grandparent influence. The discussion delves into how the results mirror cultural dynamics within collectivistic societies while emphasizing the study’s limitations and contributions. © Associação Brasileira de Psicologia 2024.