New study shatters strong theory on maternal and paternal grandmothers in grandchild care
While grandfathers are more likely to engage in sports activities, grandmothers tend to focus on tasks requiring greater language skills.
Grandparents are among the most important figures in the extended family. Many grandchildren feel deep affection for them—sometimes even seeing them as the most significant person in the family.
There’s a common belief that maternal grandmothers are the ones most involved in caring for their grandchildren. However, this idea has been challenged by an Italian study, as reported by MostHír.
The study surveyed 370 grandparents aged between 53 and 88, asking about their emotional connection with their grandchildren, the types of activities they share, and their role in the children’s upbringing.
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Grandfathers vs grandmothers: who’s the closest?
Surprisingly, the results showed that paternal grandmothers, not maternal ones, are the most involved in caring for their grandchildren. This finding contradicts the popular assumption that, due to the close bond between a mother and her own mother, maternal grandmothers are more likely to take on caregiving responsibilities.
Most grandmothers reported being the ones who engage most often in shared activities with their grandchildren. In contrast, grandfathers tended to spend less time and show less involvement.
Regarding the nature of these activities, grandfathers were more likely to take part in athletic or outdoor games, while grandmothers focused more on tasks requiring language skills, such as storytelling.
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When it came to emotional connection, the study found no significant difference between male and female grandparents. As MostHír notes, every participant—regardless of age or gender—expressed similar feelings of love and affection toward their grandchildren.
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