Tongan grandparents and grandchildren: The impact of grandparenting

This article is part of a study on the phenomenon of grandparenting in the Tongan culture among grandparents and grandchildren living in the state of Hawaii and the island kingdom of Tonga (Vakalahi et al., 2008). Explored in this article are grandparent-related family, social, cultural, spiritual, systemic, and economic-based factors that serve as possible sources of risk and/or protection for grandchildren who are expectant carriers of cultural customs and traditions. Grandparenting remains intrinsic to the Tongan cultural structure and central to the survival of the culture, particularly as Tongan immigrants experience cultural duality and acculturation. Because grandchildren are central to the preservation of the culture, understanding how the practice of grandparenting impacts them is critical. Themes identified as possible risk factors included cultural duality, language and acculturative barriers, low socioeconomic status, and low educational level. Possible protective factors included unconditional love, reciprocity, loyalty, discipline, and prayers. Implications for research and practice are discussed.