A Study on the Satisfaction of Grandchild Rearing Activities: Focused on the Elders’ Generativity and Family Support

Abstract

This study aims at exploring a general trend of the elders’ generativity, family support and analyzing the variables which give effects to their satisfaction on grandchild rearing activities. Research subjects were 103 grandmothers those who were the custodial caregivers for at least one grandchild. Participants were interviewed through the structured questionnaire. The data from the interviews were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. The major results were firstly, agentic and communal generativity of the elderly were higher than median score. Furthermore, emotional support, instrumental support and material support by the family members were higher than the average score of family support. Secondly, agentic generativity was positively related to grandmothers’ satisfaction in activities. Also, emotional, instrumental and material support showed the same tendencies. Finally, hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the variables explaining the satisfaction of caring for grandchildren were the elder’s economic status and agentic generativity, instrumental and material support by family members.