Grandparents Who Babysit Their Grandkids Live Longer, According to Science
Most of us have tender memories of time spent with grandparents. They were always near to share their wisdom and to give hugs and kisses. Looking back from a distance of many years, they always had a lot of wonderful stories about life. Those days will never fade away. And it is so good to know that grandparents reap a great benefit from their interactions with kids too.
This study sparked some interest around Bright Side and we can’t wait to share the results with you.
How often do your parents ask if they are ever going to have grandchildren? If your answer is still never, it’s time to reconsider. According to this study, grandparents who care for grandchildren have a 37% lower mortality risk than adults of the same age without any caregiving responsibilities.
During the study, researchers tracked the health outcomes from more than 500 people age 70 and up who took part in the Berlin Aging Study. The participants were interviewed and tested every 2 years from 1990 to 2009.
And the results showed that around 50% of those who babysat were still alive 10 years after the first interview and testing. In contrast, 50% of those who did not provide any care or help died within 5 years of the initial meeting.
“This research shows the positive link between caregiving and a longer lifespan in older people however we can only speculate as to why,” said Dr. David Coall, one of the scientists. The possible reason could be deeply rooted in our past. In the past "help with childcare was crucial for the survival of the human species."
In fact, grandchildren also benefit from time spent with their grandparents. Research done by the University of Oxford shows that grandparents play an important role in their grandkids' well-being. Moreover, kids with a high level of grandparental involvement had fewer emotional and behavioral problems.
It seems that time spent together is beneficial to both grandparents and grandchildren. But it is important to mention that grandparents should really want to be involved. Otherwise, it may stress them out.
What do you think about this research? Do you have happy memories of time spent with your grandparents?