Grandparenting Responsibility Among Elderly Asian Americans

This study examines whether Asian American grandparents who reside with grandchildren take on responsibility for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren. We use data from the 2000 U.S. Census, which asked about grandparent responsibility for the first time. Younger grandparents, grandparents without disabilities, and grandmothers are more likely to be responsible for their grandchildren. Those who immigrated at age 65 or older are less likely than native grandparents to be responsible for their grandchildren, and Asian Indians are less likely than Japanese grandparents to take on this responsibility. Householders are much more likely than non-householders to be responsible for their grandchildren, but there are not many distinctions to be made among householders since there is a generally high degree of involvement among these grandparents. Future studies should look more closely at grandparents who are not householders.