Earlier research suggested that grandmothers were more satisfied with the grandparenting role than were grandfathers. Today,

• A. Gender differences in satisfaction with the grandparenting role seem to be diminishing.
• B. The same pattern remains.
• C. Grandfathers seem to be more satisfied than grandmothers.
• D. Both grandmothers and grandfathers are increasingly dissatisfied with the grandparenting role.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how satisfaction with the grandparenting role has shifted over time for both grandmothers and grandfathers. Earlier work showed grandmothers were more satisfied than grandfathers, suggesting a gender gap. Today, the statement that best fits is that both grandmothers and grandfathers are increasingly dissatisfied with the grandparenting role. This reflects a broader trend where the demands and expectations of grandparenting may have grown for both groups, possibly due to factors like longer active participation in childcare, economic pressures, busier family schedules, or blurred boundaries between generations. As the experience becomes more demanding or less distinct from other caregiving roles, overall satisfaction can decline for both genders, not just one.

The other options would imply different patterns that don’t align with the described shift: either a narrowing of the gender gap without a change in overall satisfaction, keeping the same pattern as before, or flipping who is more satisfied, none of which match the idea of increasing dissatisfaction across the board.