Older people believe in the formative influence of grandparents on their grandchildren
Elderly people in this country believe that grandparents have a significant influence on their grandchildren. This is according to a recent survey by the German Institute for Retirement Provision and insurer Zurich. The survey found that a majority of people aged 50 or above agree with the statement that grandparents are particularly important for the transmission of reliability, responsibility, and trust to the grandchild generation. Among 50- to 59-year-olds, 79 percent agreed, among 60- to 69-year-olds, 77 percent agreed, and among those over 70, an impressive 87 percent agreed.
However, among the youngest participants (18 to 29 years old), far fewer people (53 percent) agreed with this statement. One in four (25 percent) in this age group did not agree. "Younger age groups may not be fully aware of the support from their grandparents," explained Bjoern Bohnhoff from Zurich in a statement. "If the respondents are themselves in typical grandparent age, there is a clear confession of support for their grandchildren."
The majority of respondents (71 percent) are convinced that grandparents continue to play an important role in their grandchildren's lives beyond childhood, for example through financial support. The agreement rate also increases with age (18- to 29-year-olds: 55 percent; over 70-year-olds: 83 percent).
Three quarters of the participants agreed (75 percent) with the statement that the relationship between grandchildren and grandparents is particularly close in families where the relationship between grandparents and the parents of the grandchildren is also harmonious.
People in this age group, particularly those over 70, strongly believe in the influential role of grandparents in shaping the values of their grandchildren. This is supported by the survey conducted by the German Institute for Retirement Provision and Zurich. Conversely, younger grandchildren's grandparents, those aged 18 to 29, are less likely to acknowledge this significant influence.
Grandparents, as revealed in the survey, have a substantial impact on transmitting qualities like reliability, responsibility, and trust to their grandchildren, with agreement rates significantly higher amongst older generations.
These findings suggest that older people, including grandparents, might have a more profound understanding and appreciation of the influence they can have on their grandchildren's lives, which could be a result of having experienced it themselves or observing it in others.
