How Grandparents and Grandchildren Talk ^{CEFR B2}

The St. Louis Personality and Aging Network (SPAN) study, which began in 2007 with about 1,600 middle‑age participants and now follows 500 as they enter the grandparent years, is being used to study intergenerational conversation. Mary Cox, a graduate student, and her adviser, Patrick Hill, led the recent analysis published in Research in Human Development. The team asked grandparents to list common topics they discuss with grandchildren and to compare those talks with memories of conversations they had with their own grandparents.

The researchers found that today’s grandparents speak with grandchildren much more often than earlier generations. They point to longer lifespans and widespread communication technology as factors that make grandparents more accessible. Digital contact was the most common form of communication, and the authors note that calling or texting older adults can be especially valuable for maintaining ties.

Gender and cultural differences emerged. Grandmothers reported more frequent talks than grandfathers, particularly about jobs, friends, social change and racism; the study suggests this pattern may relate to demographics and to women’s frequent role as keepers of family stories and culture. Black grandparents reported discussing race, racism and identity more often than white grandparents, with conversations about surviving in a world shaped by institutional racism common in many Black households. The authors add that white grandparents may frame social issues differently and that further research will clarify these patterns.

Next steps include collecting grandchildren’s perspectives, examining who initiates contact, and studying how grandparent–grandchild dynamics affect long‑term outcomes. The researchers conclude that the grandparenting role is important and that conversations between generations can benefit both older adults and children. The research received support from National Institutes of Health grants.