The Youthful Effect of Childcare Beyond Grandparenthood

Bordone, V. (2017). The Youthful Effect of Childcare Beyond Grandparenthood. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-17-013

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Abstract

Drawing on the active ageing framework that promotes social engagement throughout the life course and in later life, we study subjective age – how old a person feels – and its association with childcare This study compares 50-85 year olds (in chronological age) who look after grandchildren to those who do not and to people looking after other children (e.g., neighbours). Using data from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS), we carry out cross-sectional analyses on grandparenthood, grandparental childcare, and care to other children. We find that looking after other children has about the same beneficial effect on subjective age as looking after grandchildren in later life. Additionally, we exploit the longitudinal nature of DEAS to examine the association between grandparental childcare and subjective age at 3-year follow-up. The results show an age-specific association between grandparental childcare and subjective age with older grandparents experiencing a “rejuvenating effect” when engaged in grandparental childcare. These findings have wide social- and policy-implications, encouraging intergenerational relationships also outside the family to age well.

Item Type:	Monograph (IIASA Working Paper)
Research Programs:	World Population (POP)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2017 10:47
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2021 17:29
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/14744

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