The Health Impact of Intensive and Nonintensive Grandchild Care in Europe: New Evidence From SHARE

Overview

Journal J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

Specialties Geriatrics
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2015 Aug 29

PMID 26315046

Citations 31

Authors

Giorgio Di Gessa

Karen Glaser

Anthea Tinker

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Grandparents are an important source of childcare. However, caring for grandchildren may affect grandparents' health in both positive and negative ways. Our study examines the association between grandparental childcare and grandparents' health at 2- and 4-year follow-up.

Method: Our study is based on grandparents aged 50 and older from Waves 1-4 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Using multivariate analyses, we investigated associations between intensive and nonintensive grandparental childcare at Wave 2 and subsequent health (self-rated health, depressive symptoms, and disability) controlling for covariates and health at baseline. Associations between changes over time in grandparental childcare and health at follow-up were also explored. Multiple imputation techniques and sensitivity analyses were undertaken to investigate possible biases arising from sample attrition.

Results: Grandparents looking after grandchildren, whether intensively or nonintensively, experienced some health benefits. Associations strengthened when attrition was accounted for, particularly if it is assumed that those who dropped out of the study were in poor health.

Discussion: Our results show better health among grandparents who provided grandchild care in the European countries studied. These results are important given the widespread provision of grandchild care in Europe.

Citing Articles

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Bunning M, Huxhold O Innov Aging. 2024; 8(12):igae101.

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Lived experience of being a grandparent in one region of Spain: a qualitative study.

Garcia-Sanjuan S, Gutierrez-Garcia A, Cabanero-Martinez M, Fernandez-Alcantara M, Rocamora-Rodriguez M, Escribano S Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1419207.

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Grandparenting practices and their association with physical and mental well-being among older adults with chronic diseases in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study.

Othman S, Hee V, Ng C, Suhaimi J Malays Fam Physician. 2024; 19:64.

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The role of duty, gender and intergenerational care in grandmothers' parenting of grandchildren: a phenomenological qualitative study.

Mansilla-Dominguez J, Recio-Vivas A, Lorenzo-Allegue L, Cachon-Perez J, Esteban-Gonzalo L, Palacios-Cena D BMC Nurs. 2024; 23(1):477.

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Parent-Child Relationship Typologies and Associated Health Status Among Older Adults in the United States and China: A Cross-Cultural Comparison.

Kong D, Lu P, Wu B, Silverstein M Innov Aging. 2024; 8(6):igae050.

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