Examining Grandparents in the U.S.

Newswise — BOWLING GREEN, O.—Grandparents are an important source of both financial and non-financial support for families. But, surprisingly little is known about this group. Most research is limited to those grandparents who live with their grandchildren, ignoring the vast majority of those who don’t. Researchers from the National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) at Bowling Green State University used census data from 2009 to take a closer look at this growing population.

The profiles were compiled in conjunction with Grandparents Day, Sunday, Sept. 7.

In 2009, 64 million adults were grandparents and on average were over 50 years old. That’s about 60 percent of all adults aged 50 and older. A slightly larger share of women, 63 percent, is a grandparent compared to men at 57 percent.

“There has been a rapid rise in grandparents, and 50 percent growth in the number of grandparents in the last 25 years is due to the aging of the baby boom,” said Dr. Wendy Manning, professor of sociology and co-director of the NCFMR.

A mere 1 in 10 of them lived with a grandchild—also classified as a resident grandparent. About 4 percent of grandparents are primary caretakers of grandchildren.Resident grandparents are typically younger and have lower levels of education than their nonresident counterparts.

Grandparenthood is common among older adults (age 65 and older), but 40 percent of midlife adults (ages 45-64) are grandparents. “Many grandparents are young and active. They play vital roles in the lives of their grandchildren,” said Dr. Susan Brown, professor of sociology and co-director of the NCFMR.

According to Brown and Manning, there is a wide range of grandparent experiences, which may have implications for their ability to provide social and financial support to their grandchildren. These include relationship status and educational attainment.

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