Grandparenting and subjective well-being in China: The moderating effects of residential location, gender, age, and income

Wang, Shuhong; Li, Shengxiao; Hu, Wanyang

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115528

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The DID model, by comparing changes in the intervention and control groups before and after the intervention and overcoming both time and individual effects, enables a more accurate assessment of the impacts of various interventions. Compared to previous studies that solely focused on the aspect of providing grandchildren care, 10,11 our study broadened to include the cessation of such care. Consequently, our study encompassed two types of interventions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, other researchers have treated grandparenting as an ordinal categorical variable, depending on whether the duration of care is equivalent to part‐time or full‐time employment. However, even when grandparenting is categorized using the same criteria, the results still show inconsistencies 10,11 . Furthermore, while awareness of endogeneity in social research has grown in recent years, 22 the endogeneity of grandparenting has not received adequate attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, even when grandparenting is categorized using the same criteria, the results still show inconsistencies. 10,11 Furthermore, while awareness of endogeneity in social research has grown in recent years, 22 the endogeneity of grandparenting has not received adequate attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 Simultaneously, there are variations in the ages of the samples. 10,11 Although age variables were balanced through control or propensity score matching (PSM), not all unobservable variables related to age, which concurrently affect mental health, were captured. Regarding the measurement of mental health, while self-report measures are commonly employed, 12 discrepancies emerge in terms of adopting unidimensional or multidimensional perspectives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In terms of study samples, disparities arise not only from different countries with varying levels of development but also from within a single country like China, 3,7,8 where samples encompass national and localized surveys 9 . Simultaneously, there are variations in the ages of the samples 10,11 . Although age variables were balanced through control or propensity score matching (PSM), not all unobservable variables related to age, which concurrently affect mental health, were captured.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Revisiting the association between grandparenting and mental health in China: New evidence from the harmonized CHARLS

Wang,

Xiao,

et al. 2024

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

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BackgroundIn the context of the global aging challenge, an increasing number of middle‐aged and older adults (MAOAs) are engaging in grandparenting. However, the effect of grandparenting on the mental health of caregivers has shown inconsistent findings. To effectively promote healthy aging, it is imperative to adopt a comprehensive perspective and employ a rigorous approach to further investigate the relationship between these two social phenomena.MethodsThe data from the Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were analyzed, focusing on MAOAs with at least one grandchild. Mental health assessments used the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale scale. The study employed a series of difference‐in‐differences (DID) models, especially complemented by propensity score matching, to evaluate the average treatment effect for the treated (ATT) on mental health of caregivers, considering covariates like personal and family characteristics. The intervention perspective includes both the provision and cessation of grandparenting.ResultsThe study found that providing grandchildren care does not have a significant effect on the mental health of grandparents, in comparison to those who have never engaged in such care (ATT = −0.172, T = 0.65, p = 0.517 in the PSM‐DID model). Furthermore, ceasing this care also appears to have no substantial effect on the mental health of the caregivers, relative to individuals who have consistently offered grandchildren care (ATT = 0.060, T = 0.26, p = 0.795 in the PSM‐DID model). Furthermore, subsequent robustness analyses consistently supported these findings, even when considering data from different survey waves.ConclusionsIn contrast to many prior studies that have reported either positive or negative effects, our research reveals that grandparenting exerts no significant effect on the mental health of MAOAs. Consequently, health practitioners and policymakers should carefully consider the diverse cultural context when tailoring interventions and support strategies.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%