This investigation examines whether eldercare norms in emerging adulthood are directly and indirectly formed through an intergenerational religious pathway.

Data derived from 231 grandchildren and their matched grandparents from the 2021–22 wave of the Longitudinal Study of Generations. Religiosity was defined as a composite consisting of religious service attendance, subjective religious intensity, and perceived importance of religion in daily life.

Eldercare norms were assessed based on an evaluation of the responsibility that adult children should have to provide support and care to older parents in six areas of assistance. Intermediate factors following from religiosity include grandchildren’s altruism values and emotional closeness to grandparents. Structural equation modelling was used to examine direct and indirect pathways linking these factors.

Results indicate significant continuity in religiosity between grandparents and grandchildren. Additionally, we found that the positive association between grandchildren’s religiosity and eldercare norms is fully mediated through an ideational route of general empathy toward vulnerable individuals and a relational route of emotional bonding with grandparents.

Our findings highlight how religious involvement of grandchildren forms indirect pathways of influence that ultimately shape their view of parental caregiving as a filial responsibility.