A 14-year study says grandparents who are employed and under 70 have great impact on mom's mental health
Grandparents are a crucial element in the lives of children. How they help in parenting plays a significant role in deciding the lifestyle of their children and grandkids. Recent studies have revealed that healthy grandparents can have a great impact on mothers. While depression and other mental health problems are common during pregnancy and postpartum periods, having healthy and earning grandparents can help moms battle the same efficiently. The study revealed, in particular, that grandparents who are below the age of 70 years point toward reduced depression rates among new moms. Employed grandparents and those without health problems also have a positive impact on a mom’s mental health.
Grandparents who live with parents or closer can be a great form of aid to parents. New or single moms, who go through maternal depression and other exhausting effects and after-effects of pregnancy can use this support big time. Grandparents are said to provide time, support, provisions and other abstract and material help that improves the parenting experience. The basic understanding is that younger and healthier grandparents can help ease the burdens of parenting while older and ill folks can do the opposite.
Niina Metsä-Simola, a university lecturer at the University of Helsinki, pointed out that no study shows the connection between grandparental characteristics and maternal depression, per Good Housekeeping. However, this foundational theory is effectively plausible. “Children today are increasingly likely to have living grandparents and many studies have investigated how grandparents’ characteristics affect their probability of providing support to adult children and grandchildren,” she explained. This is because grandparents can contribute much to the parenting process.
Gifty G. Ampadu, an attending psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center's Child Outpatient Psychiatry Department, noted, "Having healthy grandparents around can provide valuable social support and foster a sense of community for mothers.” The psychologist explained, “When grandparents are well, they can contribute to childcare and enjoy quality time with their grandchildren. Furthermore, they can help single or separated mothers by sharing parenting responsibilities. Additionally, children who regularly interact with their grandparents can experience positive mental health benefits.”
Coming to the employment of grandparents, many separated and single mothers had positive impacts on their health by connecting with employed grandparents. The case wasn’t as impactful for moms in a healthy relationship. The study pointed out that this could be due to the financial needs and strains grandparents can take on if they’re employed, thus easing things out for single or separated moms. It is clear that by having a good mental and physical health background themselves, grandparents can better deal with struggling moms and lift the weight. This study has been instrumental in noting the many needs moms have and how they can be attended to.
Contrary to many beliefs, grandparents can play a significant role in aiding their children and helping moms through the hassles and challenges of parenting. To share burdens and add a sense of relief is a crucial requirement when it comes to raising kids. The psychologist explained that the mental health of mothers can affect parenting, a child’s development and more. Hence, ensuring support can deeply aid the parenting process.
