Webinar – 20th February 2025: ‘Grandparenting and its impact on family relationships: Experiences from Malaysia’

What is it about?

This webinar explores the vital role of Malaysian grandparents in shaping family dynamics and child development, drawing from recent empirical research across rural and urban settings.  As Malaysia experiences significant societal changes, including increased female workforce participation and rising urban living costs, grandparents have emerged as crucial figures in childcare and family support systems. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative studies, the webinar will examine how grandparental involvement influences family relationships across three major ethnic groups – Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities. 

Research findings demonstrate that strong grandparent-grandchild emotional bonds serve as protective factors against life stressors and promote better adjustment outcomes among young people. The webinar will highlight how different living arrangements, from three-generation households to skip-generation families, shape these intergenerational relationships.  Drawing on qualitative evidence, we will discuss how grandparents’ expressions of unconditional love, autonomy support, and guidance in decision-making processes contribute to stronger family bonds and enhanced social competence in younger generations. This webinar will also explore to the unique ways grandparents contribute to their grandchildren’s social and emotional development, particularly during the critical preadolescent and adolescent years. 

Guided by the life-mixed model (Chau & Yu, 2022), the presentation provides insights into the issues and challenges related to intergenerational family relationships, offering valuable insights for professionals working with multigenerational families in increasingly diverse societies.

When is it?

Thursday 20^th February

• 02:30 PST (Pacific Standard Time)
• 05:30 EDT (U.S Eastern Time)
• 10:30 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
• 11.30 CET (Central European Time)
• 12.30 CET (Eastern European Time
• 16:00 IST (India Standard Time)
• 18.30 MYT, (Malaysia Standard Time)
• 18.30 AWST (Western Australia)

Resource People:

Ruby Chau is an Associate Professor in Public and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham. Her main research interests are women and welfare, de/familisation, work-family reconciliation policies in East Asia and Europe and cultural sensitivity of health and social care. She has conducted research in multiple Asian and European countries. Her research outputs include 47 peer-reviewed journal articles, 9 book chapters and 8 monographs such as the co-authored book entitled Women, Welfare and Productivism in East Asia and Europe published in 2022. From August 2024, she will be the Lead of the International Center for Public and Social Policy. Further information can be found at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sociology/people/ruby.chau

Jo-Pei Tan is an expert in intergenerational ties and care relations, with over 15 years of experience in health and social care research. She holds a DPhil in Evidence-based Social Intervention and has published extensively on topics related to care relations, aging, and intergenerational relationships, particularly their impact on young people’s outcomes.  With a passion for research-informed practice, Jo-Pei has conducted interactive workshops and seminars for professionals and academics, providing valuable insights and strategies for promoting healthy family relationship across generations. Further information can be found at https://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-jo-pei-tan

Su-wan Gan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology and Counselling at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. She earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Her research interests include developmental psychology, family studies, and child developmental outcomes. Su-Wan initiated and conducted several community services, including “emotional management program” for preadolescents, and “emotional coaching workshop” for skipped-generation grandparents and grandchildren in rural areas. She has received recognition as an early career scholar from various associations, including the Jacobs International Young Scholars Award, as well as from the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) and Kyoto University, Japan.