This study examines the association between educational attainment and
grandparenting attitudes and behaviors. The sample of 884 grandparent
s comes from two related studies of rural families, the Iowa Youth and
Families Project and the Iowa Single Parent Project. Rather than simp
ly indicating greater or lesser involvement, education differentiates
the types of roles that grandparents play. Some facets of grandparenti
ng are more common among the less educated (e.g., contact, playing the
role of friend), while others are more common among grandparents with
higher education (e.g., discussing the grandchild's future with him o
r her). The implications of these findings are discussed in light of t
he seemingly contradictory findings of previous research.