Should We Meet with Our Grandparents? Intergenerational Social Leisure in Preadolescent Youth

Social leisure in preadolescence is a key space for socialization, identity, and wellbeing. In this context, intergenerational leisure stands out for its contribution to socio-emotional development and social cohesion. However, gaps persist in the analysis of its modalities, conditioning factors, and effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the kind of social leisure that young preadolescents share with their grandparents, as well as the satisfaction it generates. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 246 students aged 11 and 12 years from northern Spain, and subsequently, a descriptive study and an inferential analysis were conducted. Most grandchildren share leisure time with their grandparents, with face-to-face rather than virtual leisure predominating. The mother’s work situation emerges as the most influential factor, with higher rates of shared leisure observed when she is employed; the father’s work situation is also strongly associated. Face-to-face leisure is linked to greater overall satisfaction. The results underscore the importance of preserving these intergenerational spaces amid current societal changes.