Investigating the Role of Identity Gaps among Communicative and Relational Outcomes within the Grandparent–Grandchild Relationship: The Young-Adult Grandchildren's Perspective

Abstract

This study focused on the identity gap construct and examined its impact within the grandparent–grandchild relationship. It was hypothesized that identity gaps consist of three distinct dimensions: the personal-relational, personal-enacted, and relational-enacted gaps. Further, it was hypothesized that identity gaps would be positively related to topic avoidance and negatively to communication and relationship satisfaction. Undergraduates completed an online survey (N = 181), and the results supported the distinction between the three identity gaps. SEM analyses revealed that only the personal-enacted gap significantly predicted all outcomes, whereas the other gaps did not, thus providing partial support for the second hypothesis.

Keywords:

• Communication Theory of Identity
• Identity Gaps
• Relationship Satisfaction
• Topic Avoidance
• Young-Adult Grandchildren

The authors extend their deepest gratitude to Masaki Matsunaga, Denise Solomon, and the reviewers for their extensive comments on previous versions of this manuscript.

Notes

Note. Diagonal elements are measurement reliability of the respective factor. PR = Personal-Relational Identity Gap; PE = Personal-Enacted Identity Gap; RE = Relational-Enacted Identity Gap; TA = Topic Avoidance; CS = Communication Satisfaction; RS = Relationship Satisfaction; GCAGE = Grandchild's Age; IFREQ = GP-GC Interaction Frequency; LINT = Length of Time since the Last Interaction.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .001.

Note. All bivariate correlations were significant at p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer A. Kam

Jennifer A. Kam is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University.

Michael L. Hecht

Michael L. Hecht is Distinguished Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University.