• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to identify role types as they pertain to paternal and maternal grandmothers based on four role dimensions. To this end, a sample of 416 mothers of preschoolers was used. This study also examined correlates of and differences in the type of grandparents in terms of paternal and maternal types of grandmothers. Data were analyzed by K-means clustering, Chi-square, and multi-nominal logistic regression analysis. Grandmothers were classified into five distinct groups : influential, supportive, authority-oriented, passive, and detached types. Maternal grandmothers seemed to be relatively more involved with their grandchildren than paternal ones. The type of grandmothers varied as a function of socioeconomic status, the number of grandchildren, and geographical proximity for paternal grandmothers, and mothers' employment status and the closeness between grandmothers and mothers for maternal grandmothers. The results imply that grandmothers are currently becoming more active in their grandchildren's lives and that kinship in Korean society tends to lean to the maternal side.