Abstract
Objective
The current research investigated how relationships with grandparents were associated with young adults' trust levels.
Background
To complement the grandmother hypothesis that explains the adaptiveness of human longevity from the perspective of instrumental contributions, a “grandparents' social capital hypothesis” was proposed, indicating that grandparents benefit social capital construction for their grandchildren, the effect of which could be symbolic for young adults. Older adults, who tend to have high levels of trust and the connections within extended family, could have positive impacts on young adults' trust.
Method
Using convenience sampling, we surveyed 314 Chinese young adults on quality and quantity of their interactions with grandparents, kinship support, and their generalized trust and particularized trust toward relatives through trust games. Path analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results
Quality of the relationship with grandparents, rather than quantity of contact with them, was related to young adults' higher levels of particularized and generalized trust. Kinship support mediated the associations between high-quality relationships with grandparents and young adults' particularized trust, as well as generalized trust.
Conclusion
Grandparents could play a symbolic role in social capital accumulation for young adults through the mediation effect of kinship support.
Implications
These findings provide new evidence supporting older adults' constructive role in human societies and shed light on possible strategies to cultivate social capital in the communities.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Family Relations |
Early online date | 26 Jan 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 26 Jan 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Open Access via the Wiley AgreementFunding information
Research Postgraduate Student Fund from the Graduate School of the Education University of Hong Kong
Data Availability Statement
No data availability statementKeywords
- adult grandchild
- extended family
- grandparenting
- symbolic interactionism