Intergenerational Relationship and Well-being of Grandparents in Northeast Thailand

Abstract

Based on data from the completed interviews of 18 extended families in
Khon Kaen province, located in the Northeast of Thailand, this study described the well-being of grandparents and explored the nature of intergenerational relationships and their implication for the well-being of grandparents. The criterion for selection of sample was that the eligible households must have at least one or more living grandparents who were living with at least one of their married children and at least one of their grandchildren.

It was found in this study that both link parents and grandchildren maintained a warm and close relationship with grandparents, as demonstrated by the strong feeling of love and sentiments among them. Because of the strong psychological bonds, the three generations not only were in close contact but actually shared many activities together. Both link parents and grandchildren agreed that they should provide economic
support for grandparents. Grandparents were more likely to provide monetary and material supports to grandchildren, while the latter were more likely to provide psychological and physical assistance to the former. There was a clear normative pattern of filial responsibility for grandparents. Because of their proximity, three generational families fostered close interaction with grandparents. All these suggested that there was a possible link between strong and close relationships among link
parents, grandchildren and grandparents with well-being of grandparents. This linkage, however, did not necessarily follow a pattern of causal relationship. It is possible that both intergenerational relationships and well-being of the elderly are in fact mutually reinforcing each other.