The relationship between taking care of grandchildren and grandparents’ depression

Evidence shows that grandchild care can affect grandparents' mental health. However, whether the grandparent's age, grandchild's age, continuity of care, number of grandchildren, and number of hours per caregiving can be involved in this connection is unclear. The present study investigated the relationship between grandparents' depression and dimensions of grandchild care. The present study was a cross-sectional study, where the studied population included grandparents aged 50-70 and having at least one grandchild aged 12 years or less. 432 cases were included in the study by multi-stage random sampling method. Demographic information questionnaire, which includes demographic questions and questions related to grandchild care, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-S) were used to collect information. Data analysis was done using non-parametric tests and SPSS version 26 software. The average age of the participants was 60.00 ± 5.416. In the age group of 50 to 59 years, no significant relationship was observed between taking care of a grandchild and depression, while this relationship was significant in the age group of 60 to 70 years (p = 0.022); the average depression scores in the group that took care of a grandchild was significantly higher. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the age of each grandchild under care and the depression status of the participants. Further investigations in the age group of 50 to 59 years old revealed that the average scores of depression in the group who cared for a grandchild of three to six years old were significantly higher (p < 0.001). Long-term care of grandchildren in non-elderly grandparents is less threatening to their mental health. However, it can be associated with depression in older adults.