Older people's experiences of the Grandparent-Grandchild (GP-GC) relationship in the contemporary South African context

Abstract

Rapid demographical changes are evident worldwide owing to the significant increase in the number of older people. Seven-point eight percent of South Africa's total population consists of people ages 60 years and older, bringing about multi-generational bonds or intergenerational relationships (i.e. Grandparent-Grandchild relationship). In the African context, grandparents play a major role in child-fostering and the care of grandchildren. Black South African grandparents perceive their grandchildren to be disrespectful and rude, while their grandchildren perceive their grandparents to be rigid and negative. Afrikaans- and English-speaking young adults describe older people as an integral part of society and have high regard for their contributions, past and present. This underpins the researcher's endeavour to explore Afrikaans- and English-speaking older people's experiences embedded in the GP-GC relationship. The aim of the study was to explore, Afrikaans- and English-speaking older persons' experiences of the Grandparent-Grandchild relationship (GP-GC), in an effort to provide insight into the relational aspects of the GP-GC relationship in the South African context. A qualitative approach was followed together with a qualitative descriptive research design to explore older people's experiences in-depth. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 selected participants. The proposed research study required analysis of the collected interviews by means of thematic analysis, as the researcher endeavoured to explore the GP-GC relationship entrenched in the very nature of relationships shared between Afrikaans- and English-speaking generations.