A Confluence of Worries: Grandparents in Skipped-Generation Households in Thailand

Abstract

The responsibilities associated with looking after grandchildren can be a source of considerable worry for grandparents if they are their primary caregivers. Most of the research on this topic has been conducted in the United States with grandparents who are caring for grandchildren because of family crisis. In contrast, this study focuses on grandparents in Thailand who are caring for grandchildren due to the migration of their adult children seeking income. Interviews were conducted with 48 grandparents from three provinces in Thailand. Using thematic analysis, we identified the major kinds of worries experienced by these grandparents: family relationships, finances, the risky behavior and safety of their grandchildren, and the future. We explore each of these worries in depth and contrast Thai grandparents’ experiences with those of grandparents in the United States.