Healthy Grandparenthood: How Long Is It, and How Has It Changed?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Healthy grandparenthood is a critical period for intergenerational relationships and support.
• Grandparent health significantly impacts family dynamics and resource transfers in aging societies.
• Morbidity, alongside fertility and mortality, influences the duration of healthy grandparenthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the length of healthy grandparenthood for the first time.
• To analyze trends in healthy grandparenthood duration considering delayed childbearing, improved health, and declining mortality.
• To investigate variations in healthy grandparenthood by socioeconomic and demographic factors within the U.S.

Main Methods:

• Utilized U.S. and Canadian population data.
• Examined changes in healthy grandparenthood length over time.
• Analyzed variations by education and race/ethnicity in the United States.

Main Results:

• The period of healthy grandparenthood is lengthening.
• Improvements in health and mortality are the primary drivers of this increase.
• Significant disparities in healthy grandparenthood exist across racial/ethnic groups and education levels in the U.S.

Conclusions:

• Longer healthy grandparenthood offers extended opportunities for family connections and transfers.
• Observed variations highlight the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable intergenerational support.
• Findings underscore the evolving nature of grandparenthood in aging populations.