Psychological health and provision of grandchild care in non-custodial ‘baby boomer’ grandparents

Abstract

Our study explored the relationships between baby boomer grandparents' mental health and the multiple roles they commonly fulfi l: Grandchild care, other family care, home duties, and paid work. There is limited research on non-custodial grandparenting. Studies to date have suggested that psychosocial distress may be more associated with satisfaction levels than with actual time spent on activities, but these studies are mainly qualitative and have not always excluded grandparents who only provide secondary grandchild care. Our on-line survey asked 148 non-custodial Australian boomer grandparents (90 female, 58 male) providing regular sole or primary childcare for at least one grandchild about their experiences. Spearman correlations confi rmed signifi cant correlations between satisfaction and psychological health (distress and self-esteem), whereas time spent providing care was not signifi cantly related to psychological health. Unlike previous researchers we identifi ed few signifi cant gender differences, perhaps because we focussed on grandparents providing sole or primary care. These outcomes provide direction for parents, grandparents, and policy makers addressing the needs of this social group.

The different roles of productive aging activities in the life satisfaction of older adults in urban and rural China

“…Our findings support the idea that taking care of grandchildren is good for the subjective well-being of older adults (Arpino et al, 2018; Triadó et al, 2014; Wang, 2018; Young and Alice, 2014), even though this relationship is at a very marginal level among urban samples. Generally, urban older adults with higher educational attainment are likely to have more resources and opportunities to participate in other activities (Arpino et al, 2018).…”

“…For instance, in a comparative study covering 20 countries in Europe, Arpino et al (2018) found that grandparental childcare, regardless of intensity, is generally associated with higher life satisfaction. Young and Alice (2014) reached a similar conclusion about satisfaction with being grandparents. Other studies, however, have contradicted the aforementioned views on grandparenting.…”

Grandparenting, health, and well-being: a systematic literature review

“…Only nonsignificant results were found most likely among the studies that were not specifically focused on associations between grandparental involvement and well-being but considered a wider range of social connections or caregiving roles (i.e., caring for grandchildren was one measurement among others) (Hsu and Chang 2015 ; Nimrod 2008 ; O’Loughlin et al 2017 ; Ward et al 2019 ; Young and Denson 2014 ).…”

“…(mean time spent caring for grandchildren per week – > BDI; mean duration of daytime care & mean duration of nighttime care – > SF-12 [mental and physical component], VAS), neg. (time spent caring for grandchildren to date – > BDI, VAS; mean time spent caring for grandchildren per week – > SF-12 [both components], VAS; mean duration of daytime care – > BDI; mean duration of nighttime care – > BDI) Young and Denson ( 2014 ) Australia 148 non-custodial Australian boomer grandparents; non-representative Amount of time spent engaged in, desire to change that time, and satisfaction with four different roles: grandchild care, paid work, other family care, and home duties Psychosocial distress (symptoms of nervousness, agitation, psychological fatigue, and depression), self-esteem ns. (time spent providing care: both outcomes) Zhang et al ( 2015 ) China 3418 elderly respondents; representative Social engagement (social activity, productive activity) SRH, PWB pos.…”

“A New Job after Retirement”: Negotiating Grandparenting and Intergenerational Relationships in Urban China

“…This literature suggests that grandparents offer to undertake the responsibilities of caring for their grandchildren, devoting their remaining years to every stage of their grandchildren's growth. In this process, the elderly become happy and at peace (Song, Li, and Li 2013;Young and Denson 2014). However, our data challenges such simplistic views of grandparents' care, showing at the very least that the grandparents' "selfless dedication" is not applicable to all only child families.…”