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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
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Taking the grand out of grandparent: Dialectical tensions in grandparent perceptions of surrogate parenting

Larry A. Erbert

University of Colorado Denver, larry.erbert{at}cudenver.edu

Melissa W. Alemán

James Madison University

This interpretive study utilized a dialectical framework to explore themes that emerged in interviews with grandparents engaged in raising their grandchildren full-time (i.e. surrogate parents). Detailed interviews with 45 surrogate parents (ranging in age from 45 to 76 years old) were examined inductively and results revealed three primary contradictions: (i) connection versus separation, (ii) stability versus change, and (iii) protection versus expression. Multiple dialectical radiants are embedded within these three primary contradictions. Dialectical radiants for connection/separation included: responsibility-for versus freedom-from, desire versus obligation, blessing versus sacrifice, and safety versus threat. Dialectical radiants for stability/change included: health versus illness, and youthfulness versus aging. Dialectical radiants for protection/expression included: permissiveness versus discipline, and parent versus grandparent. A conceptual model visually demonstrates knots of contradictions for grandparent surrogate experiences.

Key Words: dialectial theory • family studies • grandparents • qualitative research • surrogate parents

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 25, No. 4, 671-695 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407508093785
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