Overview: the psychology of grandparenthood.

Grandparenthood as a separate and unique phase in the life cycle has received moderate attention in the literature. The literature is reviewed and found to focus on social aspects, intrapsychic aspects, and symbolic aspects of grandparenthood. Lacking is a cohesive definition of this phase in terms of its particular developmental tasks, conflicts, developmental arrests, and maturational course. Suggestions are made for how grandparenthood might be viewed in the context of important growth and development of individuals over their life cycles.