Yesterday’s post covered some of the blessings grandparents provide their families, all of which will be sorely needed as life becomes more challenging. Involving them in our activities, or as we age, involving ourselves in our children’s and grandchildren’s activities, eventually leads to the question of how much time is reasonable.
In a collapse, the question of the amount of time grandparents spend with their grandchildren may be irrelevant. It may be a matter of all hands on deck. We may all be dog paddling the best we can to stay afloat. I suppose this is a topic I ponder a bit because as a 60-something-year-old woman, and one whose spouse will likely predecease me by several years, I could end up spending a lot of time with my children and grandchildren, or even living with them. As the economy weakens some families will be forced to pool resources, and quite possibly their homes, just to survive.
When it comes to the amount of time grandparents spend with grandchildren, especially if we’re in a survival situation, our culture, the amount of time spent, and the health benefits (or harm) should all be considered.
The studies that address the cultural aspects were conducted by researchers around the world. The distinct difference between attitudes in Asia and the West reveal that Asians are generally happier with the three-generation households. Part stems from the cultural norms of filial duty, much of this rising from the practices of Confucianism. And part stems from the fact that there is no publicly provided support for the elderly. Without enough money saved for retirement, Grandpa is quite literally on the street if the children don’t take him in.
In the West, taxes provide the safety net so that seniors can theoretically live on their own. Of course, it’s close to poverty level if people haven’t set aside personal funds to sustain them post-retirement.
Often in the West, especially in the US, the households where grandparents are caring for grandchildren are not three-generational. Frequently, the parents are missing. Grandma has custody of the grandchildren. And in the US, most custodial grandparents are single women of a lower socioeconomic class and a certain ethnicity. They tend to be affected by depression and poor health. Remove the poverty, poor family dynamics, and concomitant problems, and the study may well reflect something more positive. (Oh, like the Asian population. Did I just say that?) And in these cases, being a grandparent spending time with grandchildren does not convey any mental or physical health benefits. The situation actually becomes detrimental. The whole situation is bad, and there’s not a lot we can do to fix it.
We need to focus on our own families. So what can we do as grandparents and parents to reap the greatest blessings of the three generations?
Numerous studies around the world have revealed that the amount of time spent with grandchildren is critical to cognition. Too little time spent as well as too much time (like full-time caregiving) both negatively affect memory. The sweet spot appears to be about 10-15 hours per week. So that’s something for the grandparents and their children to keep in mind when determining the amount of time the grand generations spend together—assuming we have the luxury.
What other health benefits does spending time with grandchildren confer on the older generation?
Living longer. A study tracking people aged 70 to 103 years in Berlin found that grandparents caring for grandchildren had a 37% lower mortality rate than those who did not. A Cleveland Clinic study found that those who spent 6-8 hours per week with grandchildren lived an average of 5-7 years longer than their socially isolated counterparts.[1]
Anti-depressant. Grandparents with strong emotional connections to their grandchildren have 28% fewer symptoms of depression. Adult grandchildren with strong connections to their grandparents were 32% less likely to experience depression.[2] Grandparents providing about 12-15 hours of care per week exhibited much less anxiety.[3]
Cardiovascular health. Seniors who actively played with their grandchildren 3-4 hours per week had lower cholesterol and blood pressure numbers.[4]
Hormone levels. Reading stories and sharing meals elevated seniors’ oxytocin and dopamine levels 42% and 38%, respectively.
Alzheimer’s prevention. Grandmothers who cared for grandchildren 2-3 times per week had a 35% lower incidence of Alzheimer’s symptoms compared to their non-caregiving peers.
If and when we find ourselves in a multigenerational living situation, it would be well to remember the advantages conferred to all, especially if things get stressful. We might also seek to allow grandparents quiet time to rest and recharge, if at all possible. Strive to focus more on the blessings of having each other to depend on in uncertain times.
[1] https://sciencesensei.com/why-grandkids-might-be-the-secret-to-a-longer-healthier-life/
[2] https://sciencesensei.com/why-grandkids-might-be-the-secret-to-a-longer-healthier-life/
[3] https://sciencesensei.com/why-grandkids-might-be-the-secret-to-a-longer-healthier-life/
[4] https://sciencesensei.com/why-grandkids-might-be-the-secret-to-a-longer-healthier-life/
