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.