Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
Gerontologist. 2023 Jun 15;63(5):851-873. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnac026.
Grandparents are key resources in grandchildren care globally. However, mixed findings indicated that multiple role engagement may enhance well-being and bring demands on grandparent caregivers in different contexts. This systematic review examines the association between the intensity of grandparent caregiving and their health and well-being (i.e., physical, mental, cognitive, and life satisfaction) by continent and country/region.
Systematic searches were conducted in 4 databases. Peer-reviewed articles with quantitative designs published between 1990 and November 2021 were identified. A rigorous selection process was followed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The studies were critically appraised, and their results were narratively synthesized.
Sixty-five articles from 29 countries/regions were included. Findings suggested a concave curvilinear relationship between the intensity of grandparent caregiving and their health and well-being, with the optimal caregiving intensity varying across sociocultural contexts. In Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and South America, providing supplementary or occasional care seems beneficial for grandparents' health and well-being, especially supporting dual-earner families. In East Asia, economic resources appear to buffer the adverse effect of primary care on grandparents' well-being. In the United States, findings vary across ethnicity/race.
Collectively, the intensity of grandparent caregiving, health, and well-being is complicated by grandparents' roles in the family and cultural differences. Acknowledging the bidirectional relationship between well-being and grandparents' capacity for providing care, the well-being as outcome is a limitation. Despite so, this systematic review calls for culturally-tailored family programs to support grandparent caregiving.
祖父母是全球孙辈照料的重要资源。然而，不同的研究结果表明，在不同的情境下，多重角色的参与可能会增强幸福感，但也会给祖父母照料者带来需求。本系统综述按大洲和国家/地区考察了祖父母照料强度与他们的健康和幸福感（即身体、心理、认知和生活满意度）之间的关系。
在 4 个数据库中进行了系统检索。确定了 1990 年至 2021 年 11 月期间发表的具有定量设计的同行评审文章。使用系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目指南，遵循严格的选择过程。对研究进行了批判性评估，并对其结果进行了叙述性综合。
从 29 个国家/地区的 65 篇文章中纳入研究。研究结果表明，祖父母照料强度与他们的健康和幸福感之间存在凹形曲线关系，最佳照料强度因社会文化背景而异。在欧洲、大洋洲、中东和南美洲，提供补充或偶尔的照料似乎对祖父母的健康和幸福感有益，特别是对支持双职工家庭。在东亚，经济资源似乎缓冲了主要照料对祖父母幸福感的不利影响。在美国，不同族裔/种族的研究结果存在差异。
总的来说，祖父母在家庭中的角色和文化差异使祖父母照料强度、健康和幸福感变得复杂。承认幸福感和祖父母提供照料能力之间的相互关系，将幸福感作为结果是一个局限性。尽管如此，本系统综述呼吁制定针对特定文化的家庭计划，以支持祖父母的照料工作。
