| This study examined the impact of the middle generation on the grandparent-grandchild bond. Specifically, I was interested in how the parent as gatekeeper mediates closeness and self-disclosure with a maternal grandmother at two different stages of the life course, ages 10--17 and 18--23. The younger focal children were twice as likely as the older focal children to confide in a grandmother they feel emotionally close to. For both age groups, the focal child-mother (G2-G3) relationship is positively associated with grandchild-grandmother (G1-G3) relationship. The mother-grandmother (G1-G2) relationship is significantly associated with grandchild-grandmother (G1-G3) closeness for both age groups, but this is especially true for the older focal children. For the younger focal children, mother-grandmother (G1-G2) closeness is related to G1-G3 self-disclosure. Among the older focal children, level of closeness between the mother and focal child is related to whether the older focal children will confide in their grandmother. |
