Journal of Public Health | pp.
1–2
Correspondence
Grandparenting as therapy: how it enhances resilience and
mental well-being among older adults?
Dear Editors,
In correspondence entitled ‘Playing with grandchildren;
improve the mental health of grandparents’, Sudirham et
al., suggests that grandparenting has a positive impact on
the mental health and well-being of older adults.1 These
results show that grandparenting can be used as a ’therapy’
among older adults, enhancing resilience and improving
mental well-being. The emotional and psychological roles that
grandparents play have often been undervalued in scholarly
research. However, recent studies are shedding light on the
significant impact of grandparenting on the mental health2
and resilience3 of older adults. This role reversal, where
the caregivers themselves experience therapeutic benefits,
warrants closer scrutiny.
Scientific research confirms that emotional well-being is
closely linked to both mental health and resilience.2,3 Grand-
parents, in providing emotional support to their grandchil-
dren, find themselves emotionally enriched. This reciprocal
relationship not only enhances their mood but also has a long-
lasting impact on their mental health. Studies have shown
a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety among
grandparents who actively engage with their grandchildren.4
Cognitive stimulation is essential in delaying the onset of
age-related cognitive decline.5 Grandparents often engage in
activities that require mental agility when interacting with
their grandchildren, such as storytelling, problem-solving or
even playing games that require strategic thinking. This active
mental engagement serves as a preventive measure against
cognitive decline and contributes to the overall resilience of
older adults.6
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adverse sit-
uations, and it is a critical aspect of mental health.7 The
sense of purpose and responsibility that comes from being
a grandparent can significantly enhance coping mechanisms.8
Whether it is dealing with the loss of a spouse or facing retire-
ment, the emotional grounding provided by the grandparent–
grandchild relationship can serve as a pillar of resilience.
The positive effects of grandparenting extend beyond the
individual and have broader implications for family dynamics.
© 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.permissions@oup.com
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A mentally and emotionally healthy grandparent contributes
to a stable family environment.9 This stability is crucial for
the mental well-being of all family members and, by exten-
sion, has positive social implications. When grandparents are
resilient and mentally healthy, it sets a positive example for
younger generations and promotes a culture of emotional
strength and resilience.
In conclusion, the therapeutic benefits of grandparenting
on the mental health and resilience of older adults are sup-
ported by an increasing body of scientific evidence. Grand-
parenting not only enriches the emotional lives of older adults,
but also serves as a form of cognitive exercise and enhances
coping mechanisms. As society grapples with the growing
mental health crisis among older adults, the role of grand-
parenting as a holistic form of ’therapy’ offers a promising
avenue for enhancing mental well-being and resilience across
generations.
Funding
The authors declared no funding was received for this paper.
Conflict of interest
None declared.
References
1. Sudirham, Sari TB, Suarjana IW. Playing with grandchildren; improve
the mental health of grandparents. J Public Health 2023;fdad188
https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdad188.
2. Xu H. Physical and mental health of Chinese grandparents caring for
grandchildren and great-grandparents. Soc Sci Med 2019;229:106–16.
3. Sorek Y. Grandparental and overall social support as resilience factors
in coping with parental conflict among children of divorce. Child
Youth Serv Rev 2020;118:105443 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyou
th.2020.105443.
4. de Souza Brito Dias CM, de Souza Fonseca CMSM, da Silva CFS et al.
Anxiety and depression among guardian grandparents: a proposal for
a psychoeducational intervention. Psychology 2016;7(13):1486–502.
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5. Murman DL. The impact of age on cognition. Semin Hear
2015;36(3):111–21.
6. Weaver AN, Jaeggi SM. Activity Engagement and Cognitive Perfor-
mance Amongst Older Adults. Front Psychol 2021;12:620867 https://
doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620867.
7. Srivastava K. Positive mental health and its relationship with resilience.
Ind Psychiatry J 2011;20(2):75–6.
8. Choi M, Sprang G, Eslinger J. Grandparents raising grandchildren: a
synthetic review and theoretical model for interventions. Fam Commu-
nity Health 2016;39(2):120–8.
9. Noriega C, Velasco C, Pérez-Rojo G et al. Character strengths and
social support as protective factors between grandparents’ caregiving
and health-related quality of life. J Child Fam Stud 2022;31(9):2505–17.
Raup Padillah
Departement of Guidance and Counselling, Universitas
PGRI Banyuwangi, Banyuwangi, 68416, Indonesia
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdad229/7423016 by guest on 25 November 2023
Address correspondence to Raup Padillah,
E-mail: raup.padillah@gmail.com.
https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdad229