Grandparents often describe their grandchildren as a source of joy and purpose, but new research suggests that regular childcare responsibilities may come at a cost.
A recent study has found that elderly grandparents who frequently look after young grandchildren face a higher risk of depression.
Across many families, grandparents play a vital role in supporting working parents. Regular babysitting allows parents to work longer hours and provide financial stability for young families.
According to Age UK, around five million grandparents in Britain regularly care for their grandchildren. Nearly 90 percent do so at least once a week, while one in ten provides care daily, sometimes for five years or more.
Age UK notes that caring for grandchildren often has positive effects on older adults. The charity says it can help grandparents stay mentally and physically active while reducing loneliness in later life.
For many elderly couples, spending time with grandchildren brings structure, social connection, and emotional satisfaction.
When caregiving turns stressful
However, recent research suggests that these benefits are not universal. Psychologists at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran studied more than 400 elderly couples to understand the mental health impact of grandparental caregiving.
Participants were asked how frequently they looked after their grandchildren and whether they experienced persistent sadness or low mood.
The findings, published in the journal BMC Psychology, showed a clear age-related difference. Grandparents between the ages of 50 and 60 were not found to have a higher risk of depression.
In contrast, the risk rose significantly among those over 60, particularly grandparents caring for grandchildren or great-grandchildren under the age of six.
Researchers noted that caring for young children can be physically demanding for older adults. Providing constant supervision and entertainment can consume significant time and energy.
The study also highlighted financial stress as a contributing factor. Many seniors live on reduced incomes after retirement, and ongoing childcare expenses may add further pressure, increasing vulnerability to depression.
While grandparents’ involvement remains crucial for many families, the researchers stressed that intensive caregiving may become emotionally and physically taxing for older adults.
The findings suggest that the mental health impact of grandparental childcare depends largely on age, workload, and personal circumstances.
