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This paper discusses the COVID-19 pandemic as a new external challenge to transnational family life that can undermine the care arrangements and intentions developed by the families of Polish migrants following the 2004 EU enlargement. The pandemic, associated lockdowns and travel restrictions raise questions about assumed transnationalism, building upon earlier concerns about taking for granted migrants' cross-national mobility. Based on focus group discussions with Polish grandparents conducted in July 2020 and March 2021, we analyse the pandemic's impact on intergenerational relations with both geographically close and distant kin. We point to perceptions of risks of COVID-19 associated with ethnicised stereotypes and evolving with time. While the pandemic caused temporary restrictions to mobility, it shows the immobilising side of "unsettling events"], the consequences of which, for privileged EU migrants, will unfold in time as their parents' age and require personal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the impact of the timeliness of first-time grandparenthood on grandparent well-being, role assumption, and grandchild relationship quality. Relying upon data gathered from 550 grandparents (M age = 63.53), the age at which persons first became grandparents was calculated and criteria for assessing the timeliness of its impact were developed. Comparisons across five age categories of timeliness as well as a three category schema suggested that while the timing of first-time grandparenthood negatively impacted adults' emotional connection to a target grandchild, their efficacy as grandparents, their personal well-being, and their physical health, the strength and direction of such effects varied by specific grandparent outcomes. Having information regarding grandparent timeliness would be valuable in designing prospective (prior to the grandchild's birth) support/or educational programs for such persons as well as for grandparents who are raising a grandchild at an inopportune time in their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparents play an increasingly active caregiving role in contemporary family life. However, specific exploration of grandfatherhood and its practice is rare. This article explores how intensive parenting norms inform men's performance of grandfathering in the United Kingdom, with ageing offering men a 'second chance' to (grand)parent in ways qualitatively different from fathering. In-depth interviews with UK grandfathers revealed that while they displayed 'involved' grandfatherhood and practised elements of intensive grandfathering, this was often in typically masculine ways. Men embraced the competitive nature of intensive parenting, particularly around educational development, and advancement. Other elements of intensive parenting (e.g. expert-dependence, over-protectiveness and self-sacrifice) were, however, overlooked. Accordingly, we introduce 'intermittent intensive grandfathering', recognising discontinuities in the childcare tasks that participants would/would not involve themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparenthood has been a research focal point for gerontologists since the early 1980s. While most research focuses on systematically examining the effects of grandparenting on older adults, little is known about the long-term effects on child development. This study aims to examine the long-term effects of grandparenting on individual multidimensional development and distinguishes the critical period of grandparenting from life-course perspective. Drawing on a nationally representative sample from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), we use ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit models to examine the associations between early-life (aged 0–15 years) grandparenting and multidimensional development in adulthood. Results show that early experience of grandparenting has profound adverse effects on later development: early childhood (preschool/0–6 years) is the critical period in terms of later mental health, non-cognitive ability. In addition, the cumulative effect is confirmed that the longer the duration of grandparenting, the greater the cumulative disadvantages in individual development. Our findings provide empirical support for views of grandparenting effect from a life-course perspective and highlight the enduring impact of early grandparenting to later multidimensional development of adult, as well as the important role of timing and cumulative effects of grandparenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing data from a study on LGBT parent families that combined in-depth interviews with members of 19 families and a national online survey of 595 families, this paper focuses on the role of grandparents in providing childcare within these families. Similar to their heterosexual counterparts, grandparents are heavily involved in childcare in these lesbian and gay parent families. The participation of the families of origin in childcare not only greatly alleviates the family pressure experienced by our participants due to their alternative sexuality, but also contributes to the normalization of these queer families in the face of public scrutiny. Despite the alternative construction of kinship in queer families, the conventional notion of blood ties still influences grandparents' involvement in childcare. We contend that grandparenting in LGBT parent families exemplifies the complex yet innovative improvisation of intergenerationality in contemporary China, reflecting the ongoing negotiation between family responsibility and individual autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the narratives of Chinese migrant older parents and addresses how the interplay between familism and neoliberalism, as structural forces behind older parents migrating to reside with their adult children, influences their perceptions of intergenerational relationships in the context of internal migration in China. Adopting the intergenerational ambivalence perspective, this study thus analyzes the connections between participants' lived experiences and the structural forces and processes. The empirical data are drawn from 16 semi-structured interviews with 10 migrant older parents in Shenzhen. Through narrative and thematic analyzes, three main areas of intergenerational ambivalence are identified, which were expressed through how they talk about: (1) their adult children; (2) the childcare work they provided; (3) their expectation about filial care. These narratives highlight a strong focus on the younger generation's socioeconomic success, with older parents inscribing themselves the role of supporting them to achieve this goal. This entails a change in the norms that regulate intergenerational relationships in contrast to the traditional direction of obligation around filial piety. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that the intergenerational ambivalences experienced by migrant older parents are created by their unfavourable positions across two incompatible systems: the neoliberal state-capitalist economy and unchanged family-based welfare/care regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie ( KZfSS) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examines whether and to what extent the availability of grandparents in the home plays a buffering role in the labor supply of parents of children aged 0–5 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of grandparents as a childcare resource and its association with parents' labor supply have received increasing attention in the literature. Limited childcare options during the pandemic underscore the need to investigate how working parents manage the double burden of family and work and what role grandparents could play. I use monthly data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) from January to May 2019 and 2020. Using a propensity score matching method, parents in three-generational households were matched to those in two-generational households. Then, I employ a difference-in-differences approach with propensity score-matched samples. Results show that parents living with grandparents are more likely to have worked last week and worked longer during the pandemic relative to parents in a two-generational household. The effects of the availability of coresident grandparents are more pronounced among single and low-educated parents than their counterparts. Furthermore, mothers and fathers show heterogeneous responses to the presence of grandparents during the pandemic. In conclusion, results highlight that grandparents played a buffering role in mitigating the adverse impact of the pandemic on parental labor supply. This study sheds light on the importance of grandparental care specifically and informal care and home-based care in general. It also provides policy implications for strengthening the childcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn rural Bangladesh, older adults generally enjoy their role as grandparents and spend their leisure and inactive periods (non-involvement in income-generating activities) with their grandchildren. The life satisfaction of the older adults partly lies in their role-playing as grandparents. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of caring for grandchildren on the life satisfaction of the older adults in rural areas. A survey method was used to conduct the study, and the age of the participants was 60 years and above. Four Mohollas of Kalia Upazilla of Narail district were selected purposively, and 253 older adults (123 male & 130 female) were chosen by using a purposive sampling technique. An interview schedule (containing both open and close-ended questions) was used to collect data in the months of November and December 2018. The findings showed that activities with grandchildren and caregiving roles depended on the age structure, and families with more household income were found to enhance the life satisfaction with grandparenting. There was a significant association between the life satisfaction of older adults and their grandparenting role. By identifying some dimensions of family involvement and socio-demographic conditions, this research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics of how grandparenting impacts the life satisfaction of older adults in rural areas of Bangladesh. The results might help to minimize the shortfalls of policy regarding the well-being of the older adults by focusing on their social and psychological needs. This will ensure aging is in place for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older people were identified as requiring additional support and protection. This multi-method qualitative study shifts this narrative by asking: how did older people contribute to the COVID-19 public health response? We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of responses from 870 letter-writers and 44 interviewees who were older people living in Aotearoa, New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older people made substantial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic through: 1) volunteering; 2) nurturing; and 3) advocacy/activism. We argue that policy makers should take seriously the ways older people were providers of help and support in this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Vietnamese cultural context, grandparents often assist their children in raising their grandchildren. While children often exhibit maladaptive behaviors, grandparents show difficulty in dealing with those behaviors of their grandchildren. This article evaluates the effectiveness of children's maladaptive behavior management program for participating grandparents in order to propose recommendations for completing and widely implementing a program to support grandparents to manage their grandchildren behaviors. The results of the repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analysis of the cognitive status, emotions and skills of the grandparents before the experiment, immediately after the experiment and three months after the experiment between grandparents of the intervention group and grandparents of the control group show that: The program is effective in enhancing grandparents' awareness and skills in managing children's maladaptive behavior, reducing the impact of children's maladaptive behavior on grandparents' emotions. This result shows that it is feasible to implement a training program for grandparents to manage children's maladaptive behavior in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Parent–grandparent coparenting is increasingly prevalent worldwide, but whether and how parenting behaviours differ across generations and the influence of such potential discrepancies on child behaviour problems are still unclear. This study compares differences in parenting practices between parents and grandparents—specifically, harsh versus supportive parenting—and examines both the associations of these practices with child behaviour problems and the role of multigenerational coresidence in these associations. We recruited 404 parent–grandparent coparenting dyads from two highly industrialized urban cities in China. The results showed that coresiding grandparents tended to display less supportive parenting behaviours than parents. Parental harsh discipline and grandparental harsh discipline were both positively associated with child externalizing behaviour problems. Larger directional differences in harsh discipline between parents and grandparents were associated with more internalizing behaviour problems in their children. A larger absolute difference in self‐perceived supportiveness between parents and grandparents was negatively associated with children's internalizing behaviour problems only when parents and grandparents lived separately. This study suggests (grand)parenting style matters to children's externalizing behaviour problems, while the discrepancies between parenting and grandparenting practices have stronger influences on children's internalizing behaviour problems. These findings underscore the significance of promoting effective collaborative parenting in intergenerational families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Framed using affection exchange theory, this study aimed to provide a better understanding of grandparent-grandchild relationships during adolescence and emerging adulthood by testing the mediating role of affectionate communication between the grandchild's perception of grandparent-grandchild personality trait similarities and grandchildren's emotional closeness with their grandparents. 710 French adolescents and emerging adults completed surveys in the context of their relationship with a specific grandparent. Results indicated that adolescents perceived more similarity in their agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism with their grandparents compared to emerging adults, but no significant difference was found for received grandparental affectionate communication. Adolescents also reported greater emotional closeness with their grandparents compared to emerging adults. Mediation analyses partially supported the hypothesized role of received grandparental affection between personality traits similarities and emotional closeness. These findings highlight the role of similarity in personality traits and the importance of affectionate communication to enhance emotional closeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on grandparents in gay father surrogacy families, using the Stress Process Model (SPM) and the Minority Stress Model as conceptual frameworks to explore their experience. Analysis of 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Israeli grandparents in gay father surrogacy families revealed that their grandparenting experience was shaped by unique stressors that were specifically related to their son's family configuration, as well as by the universal rewards associated with grandparenthood. Three major challenges emerged from the interviews: challenges related to heteronormative beliefs privileging biogenetic kinship and motherhood; challenges related to overseas surrogacy; and sociopolitical challenges. These findings extend the conceptual framework of the Minority Stress Model, illustrating the intergenerational effect of distal minority stressors experienced by sexual minorities. The grandparents also described two types of grandparenting rewards that mitigated the impact of the stressors on their well-being: enhanced social and familial relationships; and emotional rewards. The findings stress the need for professionals working with non-heteronormative families to broaden their approach to include the unique needs of the grandparents in addition to those of the parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of custodial grandparents has increased in South Asia and elsewhere, partly due to the growing trend of parents migrating for work, but often because of the untimely demise of one or both parents, illness, alcoholism and related issues affecting the birth parents. Adopting a phenomenological lens, this article explores the lived experiences and perceived needs of 10 custodial grandmothers from the Attappadi indigenous belt in Kerala to discuss how they cope with multiple challenges. Data gathering through indigenous storytelling methods and an interpretive phenomenological analysis points to new forms of feminisation of caregiving through custodial grandparenting, which require further research. Within the complex socio-economic and health contexts of the selected sample, our fieldwork explores the implications of the absence of the middle generation, which creates a network of intersecting disadvantages. We argue that the resulting calls for better support networks to assist these indigenous custodial grandmothers need to be addressed effectively at the levels of policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The child's capacity for play serves as a vital therapeutic tool as she negotiates the process of becoming her own person. This capacity can, for many of us, remain alive throughout the lifespan in the form of playfulness. Both play and playfulness are considered in this paper in their relationship to aging, with both these constructs permitting us to better live a life of grace and vitality. They are also considered in the context of parenting and, more specifically, grandparenting. The author describes five ways in which grandparenthood and playfulness are intertwined, much to the benefit of grandparent, parent and grandchild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current research investigated how relationships with grandparents were associated with young adults' trust levels. Background: To complement the grandmother hypothesis that explains the adaptiveness of human longevity from the perspective of instrumental contributions, a "grandparents' social capital hypothesis" was proposed, indicating that grandparents benefit social capital construction for their grandchildren, the effect of which could be symbolic for young adults. Older adults, who tend to have high levels of trust and the connections within extended family, could have positive impacts on young adults' trust. Method: Using convenience sampling, we surveyed 314 Chinese young adults on quality and quantity of their interactions with grandparents, kinship support, and their generalized trust and particularized trust toward relatives through trust games. Path analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Quality of the relationship with grandparents, rather than quantity of contact with them, was related to young adults' higher levels of particularized and generalized trust. Kinship support mediated the associations between high‐quality relationships with grandparents and young adults' particularized trust, as well as generalized trust. Conclusion: Grandparents could play a symbolic role in social capital accumulation for young adults through the mediation effect of kinship support. Implications: These findings provide new evidence supporting older adults' constructive role in human societies and shed light on possible strategies to cultivate social capital in the communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean grandparents raising grandchildren play a significant role for future generations, but there is limited cultural understanding of custodial grandparents. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to understand the lived experiences of Korean custodial grandparents and the meaning of grandparent caregiving in Korean culture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 custodial grandparents. Three themes emerged: (1) Multifaceted needs and challenges of grandparent-headed families in Korea; (2) Unique cultural phenomena in Korean grandparenting; and (3) Complexities between existing custodial grandparenting challenges and COVID. Findings highlight the importance of understanding cultural factors to better support the marginalized population. Collaboration with community resources is recommended for the development and implementation of culturally responsive programs and policies for grandparent-headed families in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of grandparenting has drawn attention to the effects of this alternative childcare arrangement on children's growth. For Chinese migrant worker families, grandparents are the primary caregivers for the left-behind children. This article examines the factors that contribute to the dominance of grandparenting in these families, highlighting the challenges faced by rural left-behind children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications This study investigates the processes and experiences of intergenerationally tied relocation in which older parents from mainland China join their already migrated children in Hong Kong to provide domestic and childcare support.Studies on tied migration have mainly focused on couple‐based moves within a human capital framework. With the increasing trend of grandparenting migrants, studies have expanded to address intergenerationally tied relocation.We conducted thematic analysis of in‐depth interview data of 34 mainland Chinese respondents, including 15 parent–child pairs and four adult children.The decision to relocate is influenced by the established history of intergenerational supportive exchange relationships. The initial motivation for tied relocation is to benefit the adult children. Older parents' postrelocation experiences can affect their later decision to leave or remain, with key factors including financial dependence, emotional stress, and difficulty in balancing the duty of care between migrant children and distant family members. In planning for future eldercare, the goal is to meet the needs of both generations. Options include non‐coresidential care, reliance on the parents' hometown sibling network, or living in nearby mainland cities closer to Hong Kong.The study highlights the complex interplay of family relationships and responsibilities in the phenomenon of intergenerationally tied relocation. The findings unveil the dynamic roles and adaptive strategies families utilize to facilitate the transfer of care and support across generations and geographies.Policy and services should be developed to assist aging immigrant families in their adaptation and integration, and formulate strategies for meeting future care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sleep is vital for health in older adulthood. Ethnic disparities have been noted with regards to sleep health. However, culturally appropriate approaches to sleep as a broader social experience are lacking. Methods: Here, sleep-related group interviews were conducted in the form of hui (group meetings and discussions) with eleven participants of a health service intervention for older Māori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand) and their whanau (extended family). Notes were collated and analyzed thematically. Results: Four key themes were constructed that represent the key conversations and ideas. These concerned the conceptualizing of sleep--including appreciation for its somatic role but also the spiritual properties of sleep states; the changing obligations around sleep and wake--including individual and communal time use and changing cultural and familial obligations with advancing age; and the barriers and facilitators for supporting sleep--including the social and spiritual nature of communal sleeping, the schedules and sleep of others, as well as holistic and environmental methods for relaxation. Findings demonstrate themultifaceted nature of sleep and aging among Māori. Culturally relevant interpretations of sleep practices and disturbances were offered and are beyond typical Western models which are predominantly medicalized. Discussion: This work aids the understanding and representation of sleep as a social and cultural perspective within the New Zealand context. This provides foundations for future participatory research to design culturally appropriate approaches to assessing and supporting sleep health in forms that aremeaningful for aging well across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to generate localized knowledge by investigating the perceptions and experiences of preadolescent grandchildren and grandparents regarding grandparenting and intergenerational interactions and how these processes were related to the social skills of preadolescents from three ethnic groups in Malaysia. Using a concurrent quantitative–qualitative mixed method research design, Chinese, Malay, and Indian preadolescents (N = 465; ages 9–12 years old; M = 10.27 years; SD = 1.03) from rural areas in Malaysia completed a self‐administered quantitative survey; furthermore, 25 grandparents participated in one‐on‐one interviews. Survey findings showed that preadolescent grandchildren who reported higher grandparental warmth and support had greater social skills, mediated by positive grandparent–grandchildren (GP–GC) relationships. The GP–GC relationship and preadolescent social skills association was stronger for skipped generation compared to three‐generation households. Interview findings revealed that grandparents expressed unconditional love and autonomy support in their grandparenting roles by guiding and encouraging their preadolescent grandchildren to make decisions. The GP–GC interactions served as a dynamic force in promoting preadolescents' social skills. By employing a decolonized approach and drawing on the lived experiences of grandparents from three ethnic backgrounds in rural Malaysia, the study provided an understanding of grandparenting practices and their general implications across the three ethnic groups. The interview responses highlighted both commonalities and specificities in grandparenting practices and relationship dynamics shaped by religious, class, and sociocultural dimensions in rural Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparental involvement in childrearing has been associated with children's social–emotional development, yet findings are mixed. Grandparental involvement is a multidimensional concept that includes both quantity (i.e., the degree of grandparental involvement) and quality aspects (i.e., the quality of parent–grandparent coparenting and the quality of grandparenting practices). This study included both quantity and quality aspects to identify heterogeneous patterns of grandparental involvement and examined the associations between distinct patterns of grandparental involvement and children's social–emotional outcomes. Participants were 428 families with Chinese preschoolers (Mage = 53.75 months, SD = 10.32; 51.4% boys). Primary parental and grandparental caregivers completed the questionnaires. Four patterns of grandparental involvement emerged: the low-involvement mediocre-quality, the median, the high-involvement uneven-quality, and the high-involvement high-quality groups. Heterogeneous patterns of grandparental involvement exist and are differentially associated with children's social–emotional development. Children with grandparents in the high-involvement high-quality group demonstrated higher levels of social skills than those in the low-involvement mediocre-quality group and the high-involvement uneven-quality group. They also showed the lowest level of problem behaviors. This study highlights variations in grandparental involvement and helps to clarify previous inconsistent findings regarding the role of grandparental involvement in child development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparents taking part in bringing up grandchildren has become increasingly common across the world. However, the research discussing the impact of grandparenting in the family system is scarce. The goal of this study is to explore the role of grandparents in parent-child interactions, specifically the moderating role of grandparental sensitivity within family dynamics. In this study, we visited 67 Chinese families (including 52 three-generation families) with young children (2–3 years old) in a southern city to videotape the caregiver-child interactions during designated activities. We coded parental and grandparental sensitivity and the children's positive and negative affect during the interactions. Results showed that both parental and grandparental sensitivity positively correlated with children's positive affect while negatively correlated with children's negative affect. Furthermore, for families in which parental sensitivity was high, higher grandparental sensitivity could boost the children's positive affect further. This study underscores the importance of high grandparental sensitivity as a moderator in enhancing children's positive affect in the family context, echoing the affectual solidarity dimension in Bengtson's intergenerational solidarity model. Highlights: Sensitive grandparenting benefits children and moderates parent-child interactions. Co-residence with grandparents benefited grandchildren only if the parents remain as the primary caregivers. Parental and grandparental sensitivity positively correlated with children's positive affect while negatively correlated with children's negative affect. Higher grandparental sensitivity boosted the effect of high parental sensitivity on children's positive affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan dan Ilmu Sosial (JMPIS) is the property of Dinasti Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: This study investigates longitudinal associations between providing care to grandchildren and cognitive functioning. It also examines heterogeneity in these relationships. Background: Grandchild caregiving may support older adults' cognitive functioning by providing social engagement and emotional meaning. However, studies caution that timeintensive or custodial grandchild caregiving can take a toll on grandparents. The cognitive health implications of grandchild caregiving may thus depend on contexts including time spent providing care and living arrangements. They may also vary across sociodemographic groups and have greater effects on older adults who are more vulnerable to cognitive decline. Method: Data came from the 1998-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and represented over 11,000 US adults aged 50+. Using linear growth curve and dynamic panel models, the analysis explored relationships between level of grandchild care and cognitive functioning over time and across sociodemographic, family, work, and health characteristics. Results: Those providing 100-199, 200-499, or 500+ h of care to grandchildren had better cognitive functioning than non-caregivers regardless of whether they lived with grandchildren. Positive links between grandchild caregiving and cognition were stronger for lower income, nonworking, and unpartnered adults and grew with age and functional limitations. Conclusion: These findings suggest that providing care to minor grandchildren may help support cognitive functioning as adults age. They also support the hypothesis that more vulnerable or isolated groups of older adults may benefit the most from grandchild caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: With the world's population increasing in age, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia among individuals. This study aims to investigate the association between grandparenting and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Chinese using data from 2011 to 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Additionally, the study seeks to explore the potential mediating effect of intergenerational support from children on this relationship, using data from the CHARLS 2011 database. Methods: 5254 participants were recruited at the baseline survey in CHARLS 2011. Subsequently, a follow-up survey was conducted over 8 years, from CHARLS 2011 to 2018, with 1472 individuals completing the follow-up survey. The CHARLS included surveys on grandparenting and cognitive assessments. Grandparenting was categorized as yes and no. The assessment of cognitive function involved the evaluation of episodic memory and mental intactness. The present study used cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to examine the relationship between grandparenting and cognitive function. The bootstrap method assessed the mediating effect of children's intergenerational support. Results: The results of both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies indicated a positive association between grandparenting and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese (B = 0.138, p < 0.05; B = 0.218, p < 0.05). Children's emotional and economic support played intermediary roles between grandparenting and cognitive function. Conclusion: The results emphasized the significance of policymakers considering the consequences of intergenerational care and family support when formulating and executing social service policies targeted at the middle-aged and older population in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the impact of grandparenting on incident depressive symptoms and incident poor sleep quality among aging women and men in rural South Africa. This longitudinal community study enrolled 3,237 adults (≥40 years) from the "Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI)." Grandparenting was assessed by self-report at wave 1, and depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality at waves 1 and 2. Outcomes were incident depressive symptoms and incident poor sleep quality at wave 2. Logistic regression was utilized to estimate the associations between grandparenting and incident depressive symptoms and incident poor sleep quality. Almost half of the grandfathers (44.6%) and 68.4% of the grandmothers were parenting 7/days/week. In the final adjusted models, among grandmothers, compared to 0 days/week grandparenting, 7 days/week grandparenting reduced the odds of incident depressive symptoms (AOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.91) and reduced the odds of incident poor sleep quality (AOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.82). Grandparenting significantly reduced poor mental health among grandmothers but not among grandfathers. Practitioners may encourage grandparent caregiving, among grandmothers, to reduce poor mental health in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In the rural regions of China, characterized by a pronounced aging demographic and limited resources, a substantial proportion of middle-aged and older adults engage in grandparenting roles. Yet, the literature lacks consistent evidence regarding the effects of grandparenting on the mental health of this cohort. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the impact of grandparenting on the mental health of rural middle-aged and older adults, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods: This analysis encompassed 10,881 middle-aged and older adults, utilizing data from the 2018 Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The mental health of participants was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 (CESD-10) scale, while support from children was categorized into financial and emotional types. The study employed logistic and OLS regression models to identify the mediating role of child support and utilized the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method for decomposing this mediating effect. Results: The findings demonstrated that grandparenting had a significant negative impact on depression among rural middle-aged and older adults. Furthermore, children's support played a vital role in mediating this relationship, accounting for approximately one-third of the overall influence. Moreover, the decomposition analysis revealed that both emotional and economic support from adult children equally contributed to the declination of depression among rural middle-aged and older adults. Conclusion: Grandparenting significantly enhances mental well-being in rural middle-aged and older adults, with the support from adult children serving as a vital pathway for this positive impact. Both economic and emotional assistance from children hold equal importance in this dynamic. It underscores the necessity of fortifying the family support system to amplify the support provided by children, which in turn could significantly enhance the mental health of rural middle-aged and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 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. Methods: The 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. Results: The 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. Conclusions: In 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. Key points: Neither providing grandchildren care nor ceasing such care showed a significant effect on the mental health of caregivers.Inconsistent findings in previous studies regarding the relationship between grandparenting and caregivers' mental health can be attributed, in part, to the difference of research design.The influence of the local cultural context, particularly in regions like China with strong cultural values, has often been overlooked when interpreting the relationship between grandparenting and caregiver's mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparenting is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, especially in Chinese society. However, the impact of grandparenting on older adults' health remains unclear. This study examined whether and how grandparenting is associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults and the role of intergenerational support (i.e., financial, emotional, and instrumental support) in this relationship. Using data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 wave, the researchers employed multivariate linear regression models to investigate variations in depressive symptoms and their associations with grandparenting; the role of intergenerational support was also explored. The results indicated that older adults who engage in grandparenting, particularly in non-intensive care, experience a reduction in depressive symptoms, even after accounting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Overall, intergenerational support plays a mediating role in the relationship between grandparenting and associated mental health outcomes. Bidirectional emotional and financial support and receiving instrumental support were associated with lower depressive symptoms among Chinese grandparents. In general, the findings of this study suggest that grandparenting, along with intergenerational support, provides certain protective health benefits for Chinese grandparents. With rapid changes in Chinese society, further prospective longitudinal studies are needed to examine family contexts in the relationship between grandchild caregiving and associated health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated grandparents' motivations and challenges for grandparent–grandchild outdoor play with their 3‐ to 5‐year‐old grandchildren. Background: Outdoor play benefits children's and older persons' mental and physical health. Thus, intergenerational outdoor play could benefit both grandparents and their younger grandchildren. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 grandparents (seven grandmothers and seven grandfathers) from British Columbia, Canada, who lived in the same province as their grandchildren and who were fluent in English. Grandparents were recruited using a convenience, purposive sampling method with social media advertisements, posters in community centers, and word of mouth. Results: Using a thematic analysis, we identified six themes: (a) improving grandparents' and grandchildren's health, (b) supporting children's needs, (c) feeling positive emotions, (d) supporting family closeness, (e) aspiring to go outdoors together, and, (f) maintaining the relationship despite the COVID‐19 pandemic. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the importance of outdoor play for grandparents, especially as they develop their relationship with their young grandchildren. Outdoor play provides a unique opportunity for a health‐boosting activity that also strengthens the relationship and family bonds, and supports grandchildren's developmental needs. Implications: Our research can contribute to promoting outdoor play across the life span, and more specifically the benefits of outdoor play during early childhood and older adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Latinx grandparents' substantial involvement in child rearing, there is limited understanding of their child feeding practices. A survey examined 80 Latinx mothers' perception of Latinx grandparents' feeding practices and interaction with parents. Results showed grandparents engaged in positive feeding somewhat frequently and negative feeding somewhat infrequently. Mother–grandparent disagreement and grandparent–parent(s) communication on child feeding occurred at a moderate level of frequency. Mother–grandparent disagreement was associated with higher frequency of grandparents' negative feeding, while grandparent–parent(s) communication was associated with higher frequency of positive feeding by grandparents. Finally, grandparents' behaviors and practices varied depending on characteristics of grandparents, mothers, and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionSleep is vital for health in older adulthood. Ethnic disparities have been noted with regards to sleep health. However, culturally appropriate approaches to sleep as a broader social experience are lacking.MethodsHere, sleep-related group interviews were conducted in the form of hui (group meetings and discussions) with eleven participants of a health service intervention for older Māori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand) and their whānau (extended family). Notes were collated and analyzed thematically.ResultsFour key themes were constructed that represent the key conversations and ideas. These concerned the conceptualizing of sleep—including appreciation for its somatic role but also the spiritual properties of sleep states; the changing obligations around sleep and wake—including individual and communal time use and changing cultural and familial obligations with advancing age; and the barriers and facilitators for supporting sleep—including the social and spiritual nature of communal sleeping, the schedules and sleep of others, as well as holistic and environmental methods for relaxation. Findings demonstrate the multifaceted nature of sleep and aging among Māori. Culturally relevant interpretations of sleep practices and disturbances were offered and are beyond typical Western models which are predominantly medicalized.DiscussionThis work aids the understanding and representation of sleep as a social and cultural perspective within the New Zealand context. This provides foundations for future participatory research to design culturally appropriate approaches to assessing and supporting sleep health in forms that are meaningful for aging well across cultures.

Abstract Objectives With the world’s population increasing in age, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia among individuals. This study aims to investigate the association between grandparenting and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Chinese using data from 2011 to 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Additionally, the study seeks to explore the potential mediating effect of intergenerational support from children on this relationship, using data from the CHARLS 2011 database. Methods 5254 participants were recruited at the baseline survey in CHARLS 2011. Subsequently, a follow-up survey was conducted over 8 years, from CHARLS 2011 to 2018, with 1472 individuals completing the follow-up survey. The CHARLS included surveys on grandparenting and cognitive assessments. Grandparenting was categorized as yes and no. The assessment of cognitive function involved the evaluation of episodic memory and mental intactness. The present study used cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to examine the relationship between grandparenting and cognitive function. The bootstrap method assessed the mediating effect of children’s intergenerational support. Results The results of both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies indicated a positive association between grandparenting and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese (B = 0.138, p

Abstract Objective This study examines the impact of caregiving on older people’s life satisfaction, focusing on the role of caring for grandchildren. The study considers individual characteristics (aging attitudes) and situational factors (intergenerational support) and aims to identify the mediating roles of aging attitudes and intergenerational support in the relationship between caregiving and life satisfaction. Method The study analyzed data from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), focusing on 5363 grandparents who reported providing care for their grandchildren in the 12 months before the survey. Life satisfaction was subjectively measured. The data was analyzed using multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and mediation analysis. Result The study found that grandparents who cared for their grandchildren have higher levels of life satisfaction. Self-aging attitudes, general aging attitudes, intergenerational economic support, intergenerational instrumental support, and intergenerational emotional support fully mediated the relationship between grandchild care and life satisfaction. Conclusion This study demonstrates that caring for grandchildren is a vital activity for older people that helps them develop positive aging attitudes and strengthens intergenerational support, thereby improving their quality of life. Hence, the government, society, families, and communities should provide more social support to older adults caring for grandchildren. This would not only benefit the health of the older people themselves but also promote intergenerational harmony and family development.

The global population is aging rapidly due to increased longevity and declining fertility rates. Projections indicate that the proportion of people aged 65 years or older will rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. This trend has far-reaching implications for both families and society. For example, around the world, a considerable number of women are forced to leave their jobs to provide elder care due to the lack of available services. This often leads to negative consequences encompassing physical, emotional, and financial burdens, which some researchers have identified as a significant public health concern. On the other hand, many older adults are actively engaged in providing care for their families, particularly their grandchildren. This underscores the essential role that the elderly can play in families. It is imperative for society to take deliberate actions to promote the well-being of families in an aging society. This article presents trends of global aging and discusses the importance of supporting families based on a relational and multisystemic framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the intergenerational transmission of pro-environmental behaviors within a family, we employ a nationally representative survey of young adults and their parents living within the United States. We analyze intergenerational transmission for three generations with information on children, parent, and grandparent behavior. Our findings suggest that strong relationships exist across three generations. Mediation analysis shows that parents significantly mediate the strong association between children and grandparents for most behaviors. These results imply that pro-environmental behaviors inculcated between generational dyads are robust and suggest educational efforts directed at quotidian household behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used nationally representative data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey 2018 to investigate correlations between older people's productive aging activities and their life satisfaction. The results show that volunteering and grandparenting are positively associated with life satisfaction in older adults, although more so in the rural sample. Furthermore, working is positively associated with life satisfaction in urban older adults, while an opposite relationship was found among rural older adults. The findings imply that properly encouraging the productive engagement of older adults might be a win-win strategy in actively coping with the challenges of population aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indonesia, there are many cases of care by grandparents. Many things can cause this to happen, such as parents working outside the home, commuter families, parental divorce, maternal depression, parental death, and economic problems that drive parents to work abroad. A child's childhood experiences and nurturing environment are determinants of well-being throughout the life course. In addition to parental care, nurturing and close grandparent-grandchild relationships in childhood are particularly important as these lay the foundation for strong relationships in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between grandparenting practices and early childhood resilience. This study used quantitative methods. The research location was in Lampung Province, Indonesia. The sampling method used snowball sampling method. The number of respondents was 75 grandparents and 75 early childhood children, with the condition that families who live with grandparents (grandparenting) and have early childhood aged 1-6 years. Data collection methods using survey techniques using a questionnaire scale. Data analysis using descriptive test and spearman correlation test. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that the largest percentage (49.3%) of respondents have grandmother's age in the young elderly category (60-69 years). The largest percentage (32.0%) of grandmother respondents had an elementary school education level. The largest percentage (72%) of respondents had moderate grandparenting practices with an average of 57.4 percent. The largest percentage (92.0%) stated that early childhood resilience was in the high category with an average of 88.6 percent. Based on the relationship analysis, it is known that there is a positive significant relationship between the positive encouragement dimension variables and the individual dimensions of children's resilience. There is a positive significant relationship between the variables of positive encourageme and grandparent-grandchildren relationship with the dimension of relationships with caregivers. In addition, there is a relationship between positive encourageme and grandparent-grandchildren relationship variables with child resilience variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of three-generation households is typical in many homes across the world, though perhaps less so in North America and Western Europe. When multigeneration families share the same physical space and take part in the same activities, the dynamics of parenting, eating, how time is spent and allocated, and relationships differ from families in which only parents and their children live together. One of the main (relevant) differences is that in these multilingual families there is easy access to the learning of heritage languages and socialisation into and through them. As the article will demonstrate shortly, such ease is also accompanied by relational and relationship challenges which bear on the heritage language learning process. The article describes the language transmission efforts of three Arabic-speaking families in the United Kingdom to teach and use Arabic with their children at home. Data was collected in the form of audio-recorded interactions, family background forms and parental interviews. Interview data was analysed thematically, and interactional data was analysed from the perspective of interactional sociolinguistics. The data reveals that, in addition to parents, grandparents uniquely enhance not only the learning of Arabic but also the experience of learning it. Children have a direct opportunity to learn Arabic and its various, often rare, dialects with help from their monolingual grandparents. Relationship dynamics between parents, their own parents, their parents-in-law, and their own children appear to shape and be shaped by the explicit and implicit language beliefs and practices of family members. Grandparents seem to also contribute to children's emotional socialisation and their future beliefs of Arabic as an authentic means by which to express emotion. This is the first study to highlight the role grandparents play in the FLP of Arabic as a heritage language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the impact of caregiving on older people's life satisfaction, focusing on the role of caring for grandchildren. The study considers individual characteristics (aging attitudes) and situational factors (intergenerational support) and aims to identify the mediating roles of aging attitudes and intergenerational support in the relationship between caregiving and life satisfaction. Method: The study analyzed data from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), focusing on 5363 grandparents who reported providing care for their grandchildren in the 12 months before the survey. Life satisfaction was subjectively measured. The data was analyzed using multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and mediation analysis. Result: The study found that grandparents who cared for their grandchildren have higher levels of life satisfaction. Self-aging attitudes, general aging attitudes, intergenerational economic support, intergenerational instrumental support, and intergenerational emotional support fully mediated the relationship between grandchild care and life satisfaction. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that caring for grandchildren is a vital activity for older people that helps them develop positive aging attitudes and strengthens intergenerational support, thereby improving their quality of life. Hence, the government, society, families, and communities should provide more social support to older adults caring for grandchildren. This would not only benefit the health of the older people themselves but also promote intergenerational harmony and family development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active lifestyle has been associated with better cognitive performance in many studies. However, most studies have focused on leisure activities or paid work, with less consideration of the kind of prosocial activities, many people engage in, including volunteering, grandparenting, and family care. In the present study, based on four waves of the German Ageing Survey (N = 6,915, aged 40–85 at baseline), we used parallel growth curves to investigate the longitudinal association of level and change in volunteering, grandparenting, and family care with level and change in processing speed. Given the gendered nature of engagement in these activities over the life span, we tested for gender differences in the associations. Only volunteering was reliably associated with higher speed of processing at baseline, no consistent longitudinal associations were found. Our results show that although prosocial activities are of great societal importance, expectations of large rewards in terms of cognitive health may be exaggerated. Public Significance Statement: Men and women differ in their rate of volunteering, grandparenting, and family care, as well as their cognitive aging when operationalized as processing speed. Those who volunteer in midlife show better cognitive performance, but the direction of effects is not clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparenting duties can affect the well-being of the elderly both positively and negatively. This paper disentangles the interactions between grandparenting, quality of life, and life satisfaction in China. Using a panel dataset of 3205 respondents in three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, 2013, and 2015, we find that grandparents who look after grandchildren are less at risk of depression, receive more financial and in-kind transfers from their children, and report greater life satisfaction than grandparents who do not look after grandchildren. These benefits vary across gender and rural-urban status, however. The positive effect of grandparenting is driven mainly by the direct effect with negligible mediating effect attributable to better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]