Longitudinal impacts of grandparent caregiving on cognitive, mental, and physical health in China

Abstract

Objectives

Although studies have documented the effects of grandparenting, little is known about grandparents’ long-term health outcomes in terms of optimal engagement with grandchildren, and whether age, gender, or location make a difference. This study explores the longitudinal impacts of grandparenting on health, with considerations for subgroup differences.

Methods

Using three waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we used propensity score analysis combined with multilevel analysis to examine the longitudinal effect of grandparenting (no, low-, moderate-, and high-intensity) on health (self-rated health, mobility limitations, depressive symptoms, and cognition) among 4,925 grandparents with at least one grandchild, and how impact varies by age, gender, and urban/rural areas.

Results

A nonlinear relationship between grandparenting and health was observed. Compared to those not providing care, grandparents who provided care at a low-to-moderate level were more likely to have fewer mobility limitations and depressive symptoms and better cognition. High intensity had no positive impacts on health. The effects of grandparenting on health operated differently across subgroups. Older grandparents showed better physical, mental, and cognitive health compared to their younger counterparts. Both genders had fewer mobility limitations if they provided care at a low-to-moderate level, although females reported better self-rated health. Rural grandparents reported better physical health; whereas urban grandparents reported better cognition.

Conclusion

Grandparenting could improve health in later life; however, there are complex interactions at play. Policies aimed at supporting grandparenting should consider optimal hours of care relevant to age, gender, and urban/rural contexts.

Keywords:

• Productive engagement
• grandparenting
• mobility
• depression
• cognition

Acknowledgements

Y. Zeng and Y.C. Chen conceptualized the study questions and approach, carried out the analyses, and wrote the initial draft of the article. Y.C. Chen also contributed to supervising data analysis and developing the manuscript. T.Y. Lum contributed to the overall framework. All authors contributed to revising the article and approved the final draft as submitted. The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.