Study links grandparental care to parental wellbeing, but flags health concerns for children

New research has found that while grandparent-provided care improves parental satisfaction with childcare and leisure time, it may be associated with poorer health outcomes for children, raising important considerations for families and early childhood service providers.

Published in Health Economics, the study analysed data from over 11,000 children and 9,000 parents in Germany, using proximity between grandparents and families as a key indicator of caregiving involvement (Wiley Online Library).

Parents, particularly mothers, reported significant gains in satisfaction when grandparental care was available, with mothers noting an 11 per cent improvement in leisure time satisfaction and a 9 per cent rise in childcare satisfaction. Fathers also reported a 19 per cent increase in their satisfaction with childcare arrangements.

However, the study also identified a link between regular grandparental care and slightly poorer general health among children, particularly boys and those in primary school. Researchers suggest this may be due to differences in routines, activity levels and care approaches between grandparents and formal early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings.

“The findings highlight the central role of grandparental care in families’ caregiving arrangements and the meaningful benefits it provides to parents of young children,” said lead author Elena Ziege from the Federal Institute for Population Research in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The study raises timely questions for ECEC professionals, policymakers and family services, particularly around the complementary roles of informal and formal care, and the importance of consistent, developmentally appropriate routines.

Source: Mirage News, Impact of Grandparental Care on Child Health.

Read the original article here.

Study: Ziege, E. (2025). Health Economics. DOI: 10.1002/hec.70054