This is the first book to bring together international scholars from around the world and from a wide variety of disciplines, to discover what is known about grandfathers and analyse the impact of close involvement with their grandchildren. Within the context of increased divorce rates, single parent families and healthier, more active elders, grandfathers have come out of the shadows and re-invented themselves in a new caring, nurturing role.
These original studies demonstrate that grandfather involvement is independently and positively associated with higher levels of child well-being in the UK and South Africa, as well as in Arab and Israeli teenagers, and pre-school children in England.
The chapters conclude that societies could benefit from encouraging more grandfathers to become actively involved in their grandchildren's lives and argues the case for grandparent visitation rights in those countries that currently do not have them.
These original studies demonstrate that grandfather involvement is independently and positively associated with higher levels of child well-being in the UK and South Africa, as well as in Arab and Israeli teenagers, and pre-school children in England.
The chapters conclude that societies could benefit from encouraging more grandfathers to become actively involved in their grandchildren's lives and argues the case for grandparent visitation rights in those countries that currently do not have them.
"This volume is an excellent selection of contributions focused on the almost totally unrecognised role of the grandfather that has long been in the shadow of grandmothers. The different research contained within this volume highlights the important impact of grandfathers on grandchildren ... . it is a relevant and essential contribution not only to social scientists but to anyone who wishes to understand the important roles of the grandfathers and their impact on the new generations." (Marta Ortega Gaspar, Journal of Population Ageing, Vol. 10, 2017)