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14th Feb 2022

Looking after grandchildren does not make grandparents feel younger, study finds

Trine Jensen-Burke

looking after grandchildren

Planning on dropping the kids off with granny and granddad next week for midterm and feeling safe in the knowledge that getting to spend time with the grandkids is all sorts of good for them?

Well, you might have to think again – seeing as some new research claims to disprove previous findings of a “rejuvenating effect” from looking after grandchildren.

We have all heard about the studies telling us about the mental and physical health advantages for grandparents who care for their grandchildren. However, there is one hiccup – none of these studies apparently involved researchers talking to the same grandparents before and after their caregiving responsibilities began.

And interestingly, when the authors of Is There a Rejuvenating Effect of (Grand)Childcare? A Longitudinal Study did just that, they found that caring for grandchildren failed to make grandparents feel any younger than their actual age.