How grandparents influence the religiosity of their grandchildren: a mixed-methods study of three-generation families in the United States

Abstract

This chapter examines how grandparents influence (and don’t influence) the religiosity of descending generations within families in the United States. Using data from a longitudinal study of multigenerational families, and applying a mixed methods approach, we find that passing down religious values is a goal for which many grandparents are willing to invest considerable time and effort; however, a majority of families follow a path toward greater secularization, potentially creating opportunities for intergenerational conflict. The results of this study indicate that grandparents are diversified in their ability to transmit their religious orientations through the generations, and that family continuity in religion is often linked to grandparental intervention and the capacity of grandparents to forge strong emotional ties to their grandchildren.