Grandparenting Activities and Mental Health in Northern Sri Lanka

Overview

Journal J Intergener Relatsh

Date 2023 Apr 20

PMID 37077924

Authors

Kathryn L Hale

Lauren C Zalla

Elissa M Scherer

Truls Ostbye

Pethirupillai Amal Dinesh Coonghe

Rajendra Surenthirakumaran

Joanna Maselko

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Grandparenting activities are of increasing interest to researchers seeking to understand reduced social engagement and depression among aging adults. Heterogeneity in the population and caretaking roles complicate its measurement. We piloted a measure of grandparenting activities among 79 grandparents (aged 55+) in Sri Lanka and correlated those activity levels with psychological distress. Second, we explored whether the aforementioned correlation varied by grandparent functional limitations. We found that greater engagement in generative grandparenting activities was correlated with lower distress, and that association was stronger among grandparents with more functional limitations. We discuss possible explanations and implications of these findings.

Citing Articles

The impact of grandparenting on mental health among rural middle-aged and older adults in China: exploring the role of children's support.

Wang Y, Hu X, Li Y Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1365271.

PMID: 38600984 PMC: 11004320. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1365271.

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