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Instructions | Search | Help The Intergenerational Learning Library represents the breadth of research surrounding the issues identified in NCOFF's Core Learning VII: The behaviors of young parents, both fathers and mothers, are influenced significantly by intergenerational beliefs and practices within families of origin. The Library collapses literature from a variety of disciplines and domains. In creating the Library and the encompassing Database, NCOFF's goal is to compile into one on-line service the broad array of interdisciplinary research and program reports and to make these items accessible to the widest audience of stakeholders in children's development including practitioners, researchers, policymakers, educators, community members, and parents themselves. The works cited include empirical, conceptual, and clinical research which ranges in depth of analysis and whose intended audiences vary. Each library in the Database is updated regularly through searches in libraries and contact with different agencies, individuals, and organizations. Most of the research studies and reports cited are located through the University of Pennsylvania's libraries. Studies and reports are identified databases in education, psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, and social work, among others. A variety of keywords are used in these searches: "Grandparenting," "impact on children," "kinship networks," "parents and adult children," "programs and intervention," and so forth. As a second strategy, reference lists of articles abstracted and annotated are reviewed to identify additional studies or materials. Third, other research studies are identified in and obtained from various centers and agencies which address issues such as poverty, child development, child welfare, and family support. Fourth, authors send soon-to-be-published drafts of studies directly to NCOFF. Fifth, studies are identified through government reports. The studies described in the library are obtained from books, journal articles, theses, dissertations, reports, working papers, and conference proceedings. In addition, several other approaches are used, e.g., Internet links with research institutes, publishers, and associations. The Intergenerational Learning Library covers the following general areas: (1) the intergenerational transmission of values, beliefs, and behaviors; (2) parenting practices; and (3) the roles of grandparents and extended family members. A significant body of literature addresses the influence of the family of origin on the values and beliefs of adolescent and adult children. Several studies attempt to determine the mechanism responsible for this transmission. In some cases, researchers are interested in the intergenerational transmission of deviant or maladaptive behaviors, such as substance abuse or abusive parenting. Their studies often provide suggestions for prevention strategies. In a similar vein, other researchers examine patterns of family structure, including divorce and early parenthood, across different generations. These analyses sometimes also consider intergenerational patterns of poverty and welfare recipience. Another significant area of interest is the influence of family of origin on mate selection and interpersonal relationships. This work reflects the growing recognition that the extended family plays a key role in childrearing, particularly in families of color, and increasingly investigates the causes, effects, and implications of involvement from wider kin networks. Most of this research focuses on the grandmother's role in raising grandchildren and has examined the consequences of her involvement as well as the meaning of this involvement for her and her family. Other studies are exploratory, describing the intergenerational system and extended kinship network. Included in this database is a core of work on mothers and the intergenerational connection. Little of the existing research focuses on men as fathers and grandfathers. Research on mothers has been included as a separate section because of the comparisons and insights the data may provide. Return to NCOFF Database Index

	National Center on Fathers and Families | University of Pennsylvania | Graduate School of Education | 3700 Walnut Street, Box 58 | Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216
	Date Posted: 9/25/97; Date Revised: 8/28/99 | http://www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/ | NCOFF Copyright, (c) 1999 | National Center on Fathers and Families