Changes in Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown: Associations with Mental Health in College Students

ABSTRACT

This study examines changes in college students‘ relationships with their grandparents during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, and whether these relationship changes were associated with college students‘ coping with the pandemic and mental health. 441 college students (76% female) completed an online survey. The majority of participants reported changes to the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Reduced contact and closeness was the most commonly reported change and was related to greater participant COVID-19 concerns and anticipatory grief for grandparents. A small number of participants reported increased closeness, which was related to their lower anxiety and depression. For younger students, grandparent contracting COVID-19 was associated with lower COVID-19 concerns and greater negative reactions to lockdown restrictions.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• lockdown
• grandparent
• grandchild
• anticipatory grief
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Financial statement

This study was not supported by any specific grant.

Data availability statement

Data for this project may be obtained through correspondence with the corresponding author.