Stress‐related mental health and growth among first‐time grandparents: The moderating role of family support

Abstract

Grandparents play a significant role in modern society, often while struggling to juggle the expectations, demands, and commitments of career and family. The current study examined the unique and combined contribution of stress-related variables associated with multiple roles, such as work stress over commitment, economic stress, and grandchild care burden, to mental health and personal growth of first-time grandparents. The study also examined the role of family support as a moderator of these associations. One hundred ninety-seven first-time Israeli grandparents were asked to complete a series of self-report questionnaires. Higher levels of workrelated stress were associated with lower mental health, whereas grandchild care burden was associated with higher personal growth. Self-mastery and family support contributed to the prediction of mental health. When family support was high, work commitment was positively related to mental health, and economic stress was positively related to personal growth. The findings point to the crucial role of family support in balancing and preserving resources that are important to the mental health of first-time grandparents, while enabling grandparents to be challenged and thrive through their stressors. Therapists who meet with first-time grandparents in the community should take these factors into account when assisting them in adjusting to their new role. K E Y W O R D Sgrandparents, mental health, personal growth

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

“…(men; frequency of contact with gc) Sheppard and Monden ( 2019 ) 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Israel) 13,506 respondents (3511 (26%) transitioned to grandparent status); 50 years old and above; representative Caring for grandchildren, (becoming a grandparent) Depression, life satisfaction, subjective life expectancy ns. (gc care and outcomes) Sobol and Ben-Shlomo ( 2019 ) Israel 197 first time grandparents; non-representative Age, SES, education, gender, economic stress, work commitment, grandchild care burden, self-mastery, family support Grandparents' mental health, grandparents' personal growth pos. (gc care burden & personal growth) Szinovacz and Davey ( 2006 ) USA 1200 grandfathers and 1481 grandmothers; 51–60 years old at wave 1, representative Retirement and grandchild care obligations Well-being (depressive symptoms) neg.…”

Material hardship and parenting stress among grandparent kinship providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of grandparents’ mental health

“…In terms of risk and protective factors related to caregivers’ mental health, lower household income, a short length of care as a primary caregiver, and a higher level of stress contributed to grandparents’ depressive symptoms ( Letiecq, Bailey, & Kurtz, 2008 ). Social support was found to decrease grandparents’ depressive symptoms ( Lee & Jang, 2019 ; Sobol & Ben Shlomo, 2019 ; Whitley, Kelley, & Lamis, 2016 ).…”

Exploring the Associations between Social Support, Perceived Uncertainty, Job Stress, and Emotional Exhaustion during the COVID-19 Crisis

“…Family support is defined as the individual's perception of being valued, cared for, and esteemed by his family, which increases his personal functionality and helps him cope with stressors [67]. Family is one of the crucial social support factors that individuals have [68]. The support of family members is valuable for those working at risk of COVID-19 because their understanding and support are helpful in such situations [48].…”