Matrilineal advantage in grandchild-grandparent relations

This study examines the sources of matrilineal advantage in grandchild-gran dparent relations using data from the Iowa Youth and Families Project. Resu lts from fixed-effect models indicate that the observed matrilineal advanta ge in grandchild-grandparent ties arises from lineage differentials in the quality of relations between grandparents and the parents of grandchildren. Specifically, better relations between mothers and the maternal line facil itate closer ties between grandchildren and maternal grandparents. Fathers' closer ties with the paternal side also promote better relations between a grandchild and paternal grandparents, but the greater prevalence of matril ineal bias in parent-grandparent ties leads to an overall matrilineal advan tage in grandchild-grandparent relations.