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Grandparenting, education and subjective well-being of older Europeans

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno Arpino

    (Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF))

  • Valeria Bordone

    (University of Munich (LMU))

  • Nicoletta Balbo

    (Bocconi University)

Abstract

We study whether grandparenthood is associated with older people’s subjective well-being (SWB), considering the association with life satisfaction of having grandchildren per se, their number, and of the provision of grandchild care. Older people’s education may not only be an important confounder to control for, but also a moderator in the relation between grandparenthood-related variables and SWB. We investigate these issues by adopting a cross-country comparative perspective and using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe covering 20 countries. Our results show that grandparenthood has a stronger positive association with SWB in countries where intensive grandparental childcare is not common and less socially expected. Yet, this result is driven by a negative association between grandparenthood without grandparental childcare and SWB that we only found in countries where intensive grandparental childcare is widespread. Therefore, in accordance with the structural ambivalence theory, we argue that in countries where it is socially expected for grandparents to have a role as providers of childcare, not taking on such a role may negatively influence SWB. However, our results show that grandparental childcare (either intensive or not) is generally associated with higher SWB. Overall, we do not find support for a moderating effect of education. We also do not find striking differences by gender in the association between grandparenthood and SWB. The only noteworthy discrepancy refers to grandmothers being often more satisfied when they provide grandchild care.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Arpino & Valeria Bordone & Nicoletta Balbo, 2018. "Grandparenting, education and subjective well-being of older Europeans," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 251-263, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:15:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10433-018-0467-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-018-0467-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bruno Arpino & Jordi Gumà & Albert JuliÃ, 2021. "Deviations From Standard Family Histories and Subjective Wellbeing at Older Ages," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2021_16, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".
    3. Salm, Martin & Siflinger, Bettina & Xie, Mingjia, 2021. "The Effect of Retirement on Mental Health: Indirect Treatment Effects and Causal Mediation," Other publications TiSEM e28efa7f-8219-437c-a26d-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Anders Brändström & Anna C. Meyer & Karin Modig & Glenn Sandström, 2022. "Determinants of home care utilization among the Swedish old: nationwide register-based study," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 651-662, September.
    5. Haiyang Lu & Ivan T. Kandilov, 2021. "Does Mobile Internet Use Affect the Subjective Well-being of Older Chinese Adults? An Instrumental Variable Quantile Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 3137-3156, October.
    6. Leimer, Birgit & van Ewijk, Reyn, 2022. "Are grandchildren good for you? Well-being and health effects of becoming a grandparent," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Dorota Kwiatkowska-Ciotucha & Alicja Grześkowiak & Urszula Załuska & Piotr Peternek, 2023. "Grandparents’ Professional and Educational Activity: A Positive or Negative Impact on Relationships with Grandchildren?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    8. Aassve, Arnstein & Luppi, Francesca & Pronzato, Chiara & Pudney, Steve, 2020. "Lifetime events and the well-being of older people," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202001, University of Turin.
    9. Mirkka Danielsbacka & Lenka Křenková & Antti O. Tanskanen, 2022. "Grandparenting, health, and well-being: a systematic literature review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 341-368, September.
    10. Rachel E. Dunifon & Kelly A. Musick & Christopher E. Near, 2020. "Time with Grandchildren: Subjective Well-Being Among Grandparents Living with Their Grandchildren," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 681-702, April.
    11. Francesca Zanasi & Bruno Arpino & Valeria Bordone & Karsten Hank, 2023. "The prevalence of grandparental childcare in Europe: a research update," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-9, December.
    12. Giammarco Alderotti & Cecilia Tomassini & Daniele Vignoli, 2022. "‘Silver splits’ in Europe: The role of grandchildren and other correlates," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(21), pages 619-652.
    13. Wang, Shuhong & Li, Shengxiao (Alex) & Hu, Wanyang, 2022. "Grandparenting and subjective well-being in China: The moderating effects of residential location, gender, age, and income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    14. Ellwardt, Lea & Hank, Karsten & Mendes de Leon, Carlos F., 2021. "Grandparenthood and risk of mortality: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    15. Daniele Vignoli & Giammarco Alderotti & Cecilia Tomassini, 2024. "Partners’ Health and Silver Splits in Europe: A Gendered Pattern?," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2024_07, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".
    16. Arpino, Bruno & Gumà, Jordi & Julià, Albert, 2023. "Non-standard family histories and wellbeing at older ages," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    17. Herrera, M. Soledad & Galkuté, Milda & Fernández, M. Beatriz & Elgueta, Raúl, 2022. "Grandparent-grandchild relationships, generativity, subjective well-being and self-rated health of older people in Chile," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).

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