TY - JOUR
T1 - The Australian First-time Grandparents Study: Time spent with the grandchild and its predictors
AU - Condon, John
AU - Corkindale, Carolyn
AU - Luszcz, Mary
AU - Gamble, Elizabeth
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Aim: This paper presents data on the amount of contact a large cohort of first-time Australian grandparents have with their grandchild, and the amount of child care they provide. It compares these with grandparents' expectations and desired levels. Method: Prospective grandparents were assessed on multiple measures before the birth of their grandchild, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months thereafter. Results: At the 12-month assessment, grandmothers had approximately 15 hours per week contact, and provided approximately 7.5 hours per week of child care. The corresponding figures for grandfathers were 9.5 hours and 5 hours respectively. Approximately 10% of grandparents reported no contact with their grandchild, and 30-40% reported undertaking no child care. Almost half the grandparents desired more contact than they were actually getting. Conclusion: Accurate quantification of contact and care is a prerequisite for investigation of the impact of the transition to grandparenthood on health and well-being.
AB - Aim: This paper presents data on the amount of contact a large cohort of first-time Australian grandparents have with their grandchild, and the amount of child care they provide. It compares these with grandparents' expectations and desired levels. Method: Prospective grandparents were assessed on multiple measures before the birth of their grandchild, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months thereafter. Results: At the 12-month assessment, grandmothers had approximately 15 hours per week contact, and provided approximately 7.5 hours per week of child care. The corresponding figures for grandfathers were 9.5 hours and 5 hours respectively. Approximately 10% of grandparents reported no contact with their grandchild, and 30-40% reported undertaking no child care. Almost half the grandparents desired more contact than they were actually getting. Conclusion: Accurate quantification of contact and care is a prerequisite for investigation of the impact of the transition to grandparenthood on health and well-being.
KW - Child care
KW - Family characteristics
KW - Intergenerational relation
KW - Longitudinal study
KW - Socioeconomic factor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875624104&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2011.00588.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2011.00588.x
M3 - Article
SN - 1440-6381
VL - 32
SP - 21
EP - 27
JO - Australasian Journal on Ageing
JF - Australasian Journal on Ageing
IS - 1
ER -