Missing Grandchildren: Grandparents’ Lost Contact and Implications for Social Work

ABSTRACT

The critical importance of maintaining family contact and intergenerational relationships for ongoing wellbeing is known to social work. Equally known is the damage caused by severed relationships. Recent literature has suggested an increased incidence of grandparents raising their grandchildren, often after family breakdown. Less evident in the literature is grandparents’ experience of reduced, lost, or denied contact with their grandchildren. In the qualitative, exploratory study reported here, the lived experiences of 21 Queensland grandparents were documented through in-depth interviews. The overall findings suggest that disrupted, lost, or denied contact with grandchildren was very distressing and impacted on grandparents’ health; that seeking to safeguard and support grandchildren could result in damaged family relationships and denied contact; and that a cycle of lost and regained contact can occur in some circumstances. These findings indicate that an increased role for social workers may be warranted, in listening to and including grandparents when working with families, and recognising grandparents’ need for support.

社会工作者都知道，保持家庭成员的接触、维系代际关系对人生幸福至关重要。他们也都知道，割断这些联系会带来伤害。近年的文献显示，由于家庭破裂，越来越多的孩子由祖父母抚养。不过，文献中关于祖父母与孙辈减少、失去或不让接触的经历还不太清晰。本研究为定性探索性研究，采用深度访谈对21位昆士兰祖父母的相关经历做了记录。研究发现，减少、失去、不让与孙辈接触，对祖父母是非常沮丧的经历，十分不利于他们的健康；保护并支持孙辈的努力会以伤害家庭关系、拒绝接触而告终；在某些情况下会出现失联—再联的循环。研究显示，要让社会工作者在帮助这些家庭的时候更多地倾听并接纳祖父母，认识到他们也需要支持。

KEYWORDS:

• Grandparents
• Lost Contact
• Grandchildren
• Wellbeing
• Social Work

Acknowledgements

Participants are thanked sincerely for their contributions.

Additional information

Funding

This study partially was funded by an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) small practice grant (James Cook University with FIN, Townsville).