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Grandparents improve children's behavior
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Recent research has shown that taking care of one's own grandmothers and grandfathers contributes to the improvement of the psychological state of the younger generation, and also has a positive impact on behavior and mutual understanding with parents. Such results were obtained by researchers from the Center for Family Support from Queensland University in Australia.
Usually, the efforts of specialists are aimed at studying the interaction between parents and children in order to determine what factors influence the behavior of the child and how to adjust the relations in the family. In their new study, experts decided to involve the older generation - grandparents - in the education process, to see how the care of a close elderly person will affect the psychological state of the child.
The program, which lasted nine weeks, involved seven groups. The researchers set themselves and, naturally, before the program, the goal to improve relations between grandchildren and grandparents. As a result of the program, specialists assumed that the relationship between children and parents would also become much better. In the process of research project, scientists expected that children will become more calm, such emotions as anger and anxiety will disappear.
For the new study, the researchers selected 54 volunteers who had grandchildren between the ages of two and nine. Out of the total number of participants in the program, 28 people were randomly selected, and their grandchildren were to be looked after by at least twelve hours a week. The rest of the volunteers with family members fell into a control group where behavior and relationships between family members did not have to change significantly during the program. Periodically during the research period, grandparents, as well as parents, filled out special questionnaires about the behavior of children, where it was necessary to note the changes that had appeared.
After the end of the established study period, the specialists, having analyzed all the questionnaires of the project participants, concluded that the children whose grandparents became participants in the program and spent more time with their grandchildren began to behave themselves better, they have improved mutual understanding between the parents, they have become less subject to stress and negative emotions. Behavior of children from the control group did not change significantly or became much worse.
The participants of the program also informed that they had reached a new level of trust with their grandchildren and their own children, communication became more intimate and pleasant for all parties, and elderly people noted a decrease in depressive states, anxiety, stress, etc.
Experts believe that the underestimation of the contribution of grandparents to the development and upbringing of the younger generation is erroneous. Close and trusting relations between grandchildren and their grandparents can positively affect not only the behavior of the child, but also his psychological state. In addition, communication with grandchildren improves the condition of the elderly themselves.
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