Family and Personal Care Grandparenting Study finds grandparents a positive force for children
Study finds grandparents a positive force for children |
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| Tuesday, 24 February 2009 15:04 |
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Children who spend time with their grandparents may develop better social skills and have fewer behavior problems as they mature, according to a new study. They may also benefit from more home-cooked meals. The research, published in February's Journal of Family Psychology, found that children and adolescents whose parents have either divorced or separated see their grandparents as sources of comfort. "Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties.  They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes," said Dr. Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and lead author of the study.A total of 1,515 English and Welsh children ranging from 11 to 16 years old took part in the study. The participants were in three family structures: living with two biological parents, a single parent and within stepfamilies. The students reported in the study that the more they talked to a grandparent about social and school actives, the less hyperactive and disruptive they were. "This was found across all three family structures. But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most," Attar-Schwartz said. © Copyright |
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An Interview with Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist - Dr. Miriam Tisher
When a marriage ends, there can be repercussions, for the whole family. Your Life spoke with clinical psychologist and family therapist Dr. Miriam Tisher about the relationships between grandparents, parents, and grandchildren.
YL: We hear stories about grandparents being estranged from their grandchildren when a marriage ends. Is this common?
Miriam Tisher: I don't see it commonly in my practice. I take it we're talking about an acrimonious ending, which is a particular form of a relationship break-up. The important question to me is: What does it all mean? What would make a parent want to cut the relationship between the children and their grandparents? It's probably a fair bet to say the hurt of the parent is running this.
He or she must be hurting very substantially.
Let's speculate on the feelings of the parent in that situation [acrimonious ending of a marriage]. There will probably be anger, fear, and maybe shame.
If you're a parent in that situation, and you cut the relationship between your children and their grandparents, maybe you think it will put pressure on your partner.
You may not want your parents-inlaw to see their grandchildren. You may feel they won't approve, or may influence the children to side with the other parent.
Read more...
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