The health and well-being of grandparents who report major responsibilities for grandchildren: Perceived physical health, depressive affect, and life satisfaction

This study examines how grandparents who report major responsibilities for their grandchildren experience perceived physical health, depressive affect, and life satisfaction compared to grandparents who do not report these responsibilities. Using data from the third wave of MIDUS (2013–2014), a nationally representative dataset focused on mid to later life (n = 1,819), we analyzed a sample of grandparents. Ordered logistic regression was used for perceived physical health, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used for depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Results indicate that grandparents with caregiving responsibilities are more likely to be women, non-White, and have lower incomes and less education. These grandparents reported lower perceived physical health. Greater perceived health was associated with lower depressive affect and higher life satisfaction, and social support partially explained these relationships. OLS results showed that caregiving grandparents experienced greater depressive affect and lower life satisfaction. Social support was linked to lower depression and greater life satisfaction, and mental health outcomes explained some of the effects of grandparenting. Policy implications include the need for community programs and legal support to alleviate stress and promote well-being among caregiving grandparents, particularly through financial or in-kind assistance to under-resourced families.