Grandparenting during pandemic times : pros and cons for mental health

© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissionsoup.com..

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures posed an unprecedented challenge to the crucial role of grandparenting in family-oriented cultures, such as Italy. Reduced contact with grandchildren during this period potentially threatened grandparents' mental health and well-being.

METHODS: We analysed data from the LOckdown and lifeSTyles in Lombardia cross-sectional study conducted in November 2020. The study included a representative sample of 4400 older adults from Lombardy, Italy, of which 1289 provided childcare to their grandchildren.

RESULTS: A decrease in self-reported grandparenting was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms among grandparents (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.01-2.24). Conversely, an increase in grandparenting was linked to poorer sleep quality (OR 11.67, 95% CI 5.88-23.17) and reduced sleep quantity (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.45-4.41).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the barriers posed by the pandemic, grandparenting played a beneficial role in maintaining the mental health and well-being of older adults. However, it is crucial to recognise specific vulnerabilities, such as gender, feelings of hopelessness and overcrowding, which can have detrimental effects during and beyond emergency situations. Careful attention to these factors is essential for developing targeted support systems and interventions aimed at safeguarding the mental health of older adults and enhancing their resilience in crises.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:45

Enthalten in:

Journal of public health (Oxford, England) - 45(2023), 4 vom: 29. Nov., Seite 816-821

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Vigezzi, Giacomo Pietro [VerfasserIn]
Bertuccio, Paola [VerfasserIn]
Amerio, Andrea [VerfasserIn]
Bottini, Gabriella [VerfasserIn]
Gandola, Martina [VerfasserIn]
Cavalieri d'Oro, Luca [VerfasserIn]
Iacoviello, Licia [VerfasserIn]
Stuckler, David [VerfasserIn]
Signorelli, Carlo [VerfasserIn]
Zucchi, Alberto [VerfasserIn]
Gallus, Silvano [VerfasserIn]
Odone, Anna [VerfasserIn]
Lost in Lombardia Project Investigators [VerfasserIn]
Amerio, A [Sonstige Person]
Amore, M [Sonstige Person]
Bertuccio, P [Sonstige Person]
Bonaccio, M [Sonstige Person]
Bosetti, C [Sonstige Person]
Cavalieri d'Oro, L [Sonstige Person]
Ciampichini, R [Sonstige Person]
De Sena, R [Sonstige Person]
Gallus, S [Sonstige Person]
Gianfagna, F [Sonstige Person]
Ghislandi, S [Sonstige Person]
Ghulam, A [Sonstige Person]
Iacoviello, L [Sonstige Person]
Jarach, C M [Sonstige Person]
Lugo, A [Sonstige Person]
Mosconi, G [Sonstige Person]
Odone, A [Sonstige Person]
Rognoni, M [Sonstige Person]
Serafini, G [Sonstige Person]
Scala, M [Sonstige Person]
Signorelli, C [Sonstige Person]
Stival, C [Sonstige Person]
Stuckler, D [Sonstige Person]
Vigezzi, G P [Sonstige Person]
Wang, Y [Sonstige Person]
Zucchi, A [Sonstige Person]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Cross-sectional studies
Depression
Grandpareting
Italy
Journal Article
Mental health
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Sleep disorders

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.12.2023

Date Revised 24.04.2024

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1093/pubmed/fdad154

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM361305788