Studies: Caring for grandchildren is healthy

For the kids, grandma and grandpa often means warmth and fun. In return, taking care of the little rascals can reduce depression, create social interaction, and keep older adults engaged.

Using data from a survey of families spanning several generations between 1985 and 2004, a 2016 Boston University study found that when young adults and their elders enjoy close relationships, both display fewer symptoms of depression.

According to a 2014 study from the Journal of the American Gerontological Society, spending quality time with grandchildren while they’re very young advanced the mental health of a senior too. The more bonding between their generations, the better.

Susan Newman, a social psychologist and author of “Little Things Mean a Lot: Creating Happy Memories with Your Grandchildren,” says grandparents are exceptional at calming kids when they’re hurting and exhorting them when they’re well.

When there’s somebody they trust and know is always on their side, it’s a huge emotional plus for the child, Newman says, adding that they have somebody around who’s comforting.

Unlike most parents, Newman continues, grandparents have “infinite patience”–and often, more time to spare.

Sharing interests such as sports, baking or flying kites brings happiness to both generations. If kids are having fun, she adds, “you’re going to feel good as a grandparent.”

Watching grandchildren on a weekly basis may also heighten the brain function and verbal fluency of the grandparent, according to a study published in a 2014 Journal of Marriage and the

Family analyzed by data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe.

Still another study, published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society, found the highest cognitive scores among older women who spent one day a week babysitting their grandchildren.

In a December 2016 study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, caring for grandchildren might even lead to longer life. According to the study, of more than 500 elderly
European grandparents, those who provided at least occasional care for their grandchildren were likely to live longer.