Grandmothers' mental health is associated with grandchildren's emotional and behavioral development: a three-generation prospective study in Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maternal mental health is associated with an increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems in children, and the risk is partly explained by the negative impact of maternal depression on caregiving. The role of mental health in other family members, who in many contexts also provide substantial caregiving, has received far less attention. We examined the impact of grandmothers' emotional symptoms, whose role in child care is increasing across the world, on internalizing and externalizing symptoms in grandchildren from a three-generation birth cohort study.

Methods

Prospective data from three generations in two birth cohorts 22 years apart (1982 and 2004) in Pelotas, Brazil, were used (n = 92). Mental health in grandmothers and parents was assessed using the

SUBMITTER: Pearson RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6580571 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature