ABSTRACT
Modern research on grandparents traces its roots to Neugarten and Weinstein’s ( 1964 ) classic study of 70 adult dyads who were interviewed about their grandparent role. This study described the degree of comfort experienced in the grandparent role, delineated the signifi cance and meaning of grandparenthood, and outlined the fi rst typology of grandparenting styles. More than two decades later, Cherlin and Furstenberg’s ( 1986 ) now classic study identifi ed similar grandparenting styles and also explored the symbolic meaning of the grandparent role. This study also explored the exchange of services and support, the functions of a grandparent, grandparents’ selective investment behaviors, and broached the term intergenerational solidarity.
