Grandparents a rock for teenagers
Grandparents spending time with their teenage grandchildren can help develop better social skills and result in fewer behaviour problems for the youngsters, according to an extensive study by the American Psychological Association.
Teenagers with parents who had separated or divorced had the most to gain through the contact with grandparents, with the young people regarding them as confidantes and added sources of comfort.
More than 1500 children aged 11-16 from different types of families were surveyed on their involvement with grandparents to examine whether the relationship made a difference in the teenagers’ emotional and behavioural adjustments.
The research found that the young people became less disruptive and hyperactive, the more they discussed issues such as social and school activities –and money problems- with their grandparents.
It was also found that grandchildren were closer to their maternal grandparents and their grandmothers.
Grandparents Australia director Anne McLeish said that there needed to be more contact introduced between schools and nursing homes.
“Any interaction across the generations should be encouraged. Increasingly employers are looking for people who are well adjusted and able to communicate and integrate with people from all sorts of backgrounds, including older people”.
