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Grandparenting and Children’s Health-Empirical Evidence from China

Author

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  • Nan Sun

    (Fudan University)

  • Fan Yang

    (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

Evaluating the effects of grandparenting on children’s health are receiving increased interest. This study explores the impact of grandparenting on children’s health and draws on data from the 2012–2014 China Family Panel Studies. The indicators of children’s health include height-for-age z- score (HAZ) and the frequency of being sick in the past four weeks. Results show that grandparenting has a negative impact on children’s health generally; however, when the elderly provide partial child care, this impact declines and disappears in terms of HAZ and frequency of being sick respectively. The heterogeneity of the effect can be reflected from three perspectives. First, the negative effect of grandparenting on children’s health is more pronounced when both parents are absent; however, when children live with one parent, grandparenting exerts no noticeable effects on their HAZ and significantly lowers the frequency of being sick, suggesting that grandparents are important support system in the single-parent family. Second, children from urban and rural areas are differently affected by grandparenting, those from rural areas bear the brunt of the negative health consequences. Third, the impact of grandparenting differs slightly between school children and preschoolers, thus children’s reactions to family care at different age stages should be paid attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Nan Sun & Fan Yang, 2021. "Grandparenting and Children’s Health-Empirical Evidence from China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(3), pages 1105-1120, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:14:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s12187-020-09786-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-020-09786-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mary Elizabeth Hughes & Linda J. Waite & Tracey A. LaPierre & Ye Luo, 2007. "All in the Family: The Impact of Caring for Grandchildren on Grandparents' Health," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(2), pages 108-119.
    2. Janet Currie, 2009. "Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Socioeconomic Status, Poor Health in Childhood, and Human Capital Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 47(1), pages 87-122, March.
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    4. Sadruddin, Aalyia F.A. & Ponguta, Liliana A. & Zonderman, Anna L. & Wiley, Kyle S. & Grimshaw, Alyssa & Panter-Brick, Catherine, 2019. "How do grandparents influence child health and development? A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    5. Antti O. Tanskanen & Mirkka Danielsbacka, 2017. "Association Between Grandparental Co-Residence and Early Childhood Injury in the UK," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 10(3), pages 825-837, September.
    6. Zhen Zeng & Yu Xie, 2014. "The Effects of Grandparents on Children’s Schooling: Evidence From Rural China," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(2), pages 599-617, April.
    7. Kelley, Susan J. & Whitley, Deborah M. & Campos, Peter E., 2011. "Behavior problems in children raised by grandmothers: The role of caregiver distress, family resources, and the home environment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2138-2145.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Sophie Xuefei & Bansak, Cynthia, 2022. "Are Grandparents a Good Substitute for Parents as the Primary Caregiver? The Impact of Grandparents on Children's Academic Performance," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1100, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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