Complex Kinship Networks: Step-Grandparenthood in the Netherlands

Vera de Bel , University of Groningen
Karsten Hank, University of Colgone

Following the sustained rise in divorce rates and re-partnering, families have become more diverse and complex, leading to the emergence of new family roles and relationships. In this paper, we examine the prevalence of both skipped and inherited step-grandparenthood in Dutch kinship networks. Inherited step-grandparenthood arises from the moment a child’s parents re-partner, as it concerns the step-parents’ parents. Skipped step-grandparenthood, however, begins when children are born into a setting where their parents already have step-parents. Ties to skipped step-grandparents therefore have the potential to be as strong as ties to biological grandparents, as both are present from birth and coexist alongside biological grandparents. Utilizing longitudinal Dutch population network data, we reveal a stable trend in inherited step-grandparenthood and a clear rise in skipped step-grandparenthood, showing that one in five children aged 0–12 had more than four grandparents in 2023. Enlarged grandparent generations imply growing pressure on family members in supporting older relatives.

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 Presented in Session 90. Kin Availability and Complex Networks in Ageing Populations