| Abstract [eng] |
Grandparenthood is one of the most important roles in later life, as the population ages, the retirement age increases and a new category of "working grandparents" emerges. When individuals retired earlier, grandparenthood was a major part of later life. In recent years, this traditional role of the grandparent has changed, and grandparents need to adapt and reconcile more roles, so it is crucial to understand how people of working age balance the roles of grandparenthood and work and how this affects their well-being. The aim of this master thesis is to find out how working individuals with grandchildren balance these roles and how it affects their well-being. The objectives of the study are: to understand the significance of grandparenthood for the participants of the study, to understand what changes occur after the birth of grandchildren and what intergenerational relationships are like. Also: to examine what practices of grandparenthood are typical of a working grandparent and to find out how balancing grandparenthood and work affects grandparents' well-being. In the theoretical part of the work, I rely on authors who write about grandparenthood, intergenerational relationships, the well-being of grandparents, and the balancing of grandparenthood and work. A qualitative method was chosen for the study. Twelve semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with grandparents who are also working full-time and have pre-school grandchildren, but do not live with them. It was also important that neither the grandchildren nor the grandparents have health problems that could affect grandchild care. The study has revealed that grandparenthood is a welcome and joyful stage in life that is not difficult to reconcile with work. The work superiors and colleagues of the study participants both support a balanced view of these roles. Some informants say that the birth of grandchildren had no effect on any aspects of their work. Others do mention some situations where having a grandchild impedes work but say that this is not a major problem. Grandparents have not considered reducing working hours, making their schedules more flexible or leaving work because of grandchildren. According to the study participants, combining grandparenthood with work is easier than paternity or motherhood because there is less responsibility. As for the importance of work for the study participants, some do not imagine their lives without work as it gives them meaning, as well as providing aspects of self-realization and an opportunity to cultivate social relations. For others, work is no longer as important as it used to be – its most important aspect is financial. Turning to grandparenthood itself, study participants testify to being satisfied with both – their relationship to their grandchildren and to their children. Grandparents spend most of their time with their grandchildren playing various games, sometimes "replacing" their parents, and going on holiday with their grandchildren. Grandparents see their grandchildren with varying frequency, ranging from once every two months to several times a week; some grandparents also communicate with their grandchildren by phone or video call. The grandparents feel valued, because their children thank them in verbal and nonverbal ways for the caring of the grandchildren. The involvement of the study participant’s partner and their child's partner's parents in the care of the grandchildren varies in similarity – some are less involved, others are equally or more involved. Regarding the changes after becoming a grandparent, informants name a decrease in the amount of time for oneself, a closer relationship with their children, a greater joy in life as well as becoming more forgiving and patient. Grandparenthood has a positive emotional impact on the well-being of the study participants. (Santraukos pabaiga nebetilpo). |
