Grandparents' Support in Childcare Reduces Maternal Depression

Grandparents' Support in Childcare Reduces Maternal Depression

Helsinki: A new study has revealed that when grandparents participate in the care of their grandchildren, the likelihood of depression in mothers decreases, reducing their dependency on antidepressant medications.

The Impact of Grandparents' Involvement in Childcare on Maternal Mental Health

Media reports cite a recent study conducted by researchers in Finland, published in the Population Studies Journal, indicating that mothers who receive support from their parents or in-laws in caring for their grandchildren or great-grandchildren are less likely to resort to antidepressants.

Research Findings

The study examined 488,000 mothers of young children in Finland, finding that antidepressant usage was highest among those whose parents or in-laws lived far away or were elderly and ill.

Co-author of the study and researcher at the University of Helsinki, Nina Metsä-Simola, noted that previous research has demonstrated that healthy grandparents can effectively contribute to childcare in better and more efficient ways.

Metsä-Simola added that having elderly or frail grandparents can impose an additional burden on mothers as they may not rely on such parents or in-laws for assistance in childcare.