Khaberni - Grandchildren are precious treasures, but regularly taking care of grandchildren may harm the mental health of grandparents, according to recent research that showed a significantly increased risk of depression, especially for older grandparents taking care of young children under the age of six.
Taking care of young grandchildren after sixty can cause emotional and physical stress
According to "Daily Mail", researchers attribute this to the physical and financial stress caused by keeping infants busy while their parents are at work.
Grandparent caregiving
British research on aging suggests that what is called "grandparent caregiving" has many benefits for older couples, as it maintains their mental and physical activity and reduces their sense of loneliness.
However, the latest study, conducted by a team of psychologists at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, indicates that taking care of grandchildren does not yield entirely positive outcomes.
The researchers surveyed more than 400 elderly couples about how often they care for their grandchildren and whether they suffer from any problems related to a decrease in mood.
The results, published in the British Journal of Psychology, revealed no connection between taking care of grandchildren and depression among the younger grandparents in their fifties.
But among those in their sixties, a significant increase in the risk of depression was noted, especially if the grandchildren were under six years of age.
The researchers said: "For these individuals, taking care of grandchildren may impose additional emotional and physical stress on them, and drain much of their time and effort."
