Caring for grandchildren and life satisfaction of grandparents in China

Abstract

BackgroundCaring for grandchildren has been a normative, pragmatic and prevalent practice in China, while its association with the well-being of grandparents remains inconclusive. This study aims to illustrate whether and how the provision of grandchild care is related to grandparents’ life satisfaction, and how the relationship is contingent on the features of grandparents. MethodsUsing data from the 2018 wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we apply ordered logistic model to examine the link between caregiving intensity and life satisfaction. ResultsProvision of moderate grandchild care is associated with better life satisfaction, as caregiving grandparents participate in social activities more actively and feel more confident in the future. The association between intensive child care and life satisfaction remains insignificant, as its detrimental effect might wipe out the benefits. The positive association between moderate caregiving and life satisfaction is more pronounced among male, younger, rural grandparents and grandparents not co-residing with their children. ConclusionOur findings suggest that caring for grandchildren is not necessarily beneficial for grandparents. Attenuating the load of child care as well as enhancing social and economic support to caregivers would help them better reap the benefits of grandchild care.