When Grandparents Need Our Support
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Jaime Herndon
With the family landscape changing, many grandparents have taken a more active role in taking care of children – but the well-being of grandparents is affected.
A new study published in the Journal of Family Studies found that grandparents who care for grandchildren with abnormal emotional and hyperactive symptoms are more likely to have lower levels of life satisfaction. Children who are cared for primarily by their grandparents also show more emotional and behavioral disturbances than other children. When acting as the primary caretakers for their grandchildren, grandparents tend to report more isolation and less social support, reinforcing negative emotions.
Interestingly, a previous study from the University of Eastern Finland found that grandparents’ willingness to help with childcare and emotional support is linked with mothers’ willingness to have additional children. Grandparents need emotional and social support when taking on a caregiving role. If you live close by, offer to help with your nieces or nephews, like offering to take the kids for an afternoon, and let them know you’re there for them all if they need you. The happier and more supported caregivers are, the better it is for the kids.
Photo monkeybusinessimages
Published: March 24, 2015