The effects of caring for grandchIldren on grandparents' health

손자녀 돌봄이 조부모의 건강에 미치는 영향

  • Received : 2016.05.31
  • Accepted : 2016.07.21
  • Published : 2016.08.31

Abstract

This study analyzes the effects of caring for grandchildren on Korean grandparents' health, using the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2012. We investigate how caregiving is provided and analyze the effects of caregiving on grandparents' physical health, mental health, and health-related behaviors. As elderly people's health is generally frail, it is unclear whether the provision of childcare affects their health negatively. We control for the endogeneity of caregiving by an individual fixed effect (FE) model and instrumental variable-fixed effect (FE-IV) models. Using these models, we determine the endogeneity of caregiving and show that the significant effects of caregiving on health disappear as we control for endogeneity in the FE and FE-IV models. Even after controlling for endogeneity, we find that caregiving increases the probability of feeling pain as well as the number of different types of pain. Furthermore, caregiving increases the probability of restrictions on daily activities because of pain. On the other hand, caregiving reduces the symptoms of depression. In relation to health-related behaviors, caregiving reduces the probability of physical exercise and regular meals. Our results imply that although caregiving has a positive effect on mental health, the increase in physical pain and in non-healthy behaviors may lead to a deterioration of the caregiver's long-term health, which in turn may increase the medical costs of the elderly. Potential policy alternatives are discussed in the paper.

Keywords

References

  1. 김미혜. 김혜선(2004). 저소득층 조손가족 조부모의 생활만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인 연구. 한국노년학, 24(3), 153-170.
  2. 김승용. 정미경(2006). 손자녀 돌봄에 대한 조모 및 취업모의 인식 조사 연구. 열린유아교육연구, 11(5), 67-96.
  3. 김시월. 조향숙(2013). 중 고령자 가계의 삶의 만족도 척도개발 및 영향요인-손자녀 돌봄 여부에 따른 비교. 한국소비자학회 2013 춘계학술대회자료집.
  4. 김윤옥(2009). 민간 영유아 보육시설의 문제점과 개선방안. 인천대학교 행정대학원 석사학위논문.
  5. 김윤주. 방미란(2011). 손자녀를 돌보는 할머니의 경험: 내러티브 탐구. 질적 연구, 12(1), 59-72.
  6. 김은정. 정순둘(2011). 손자녀 대리양육 조모의 적응 경험에 관한 연구-취업모 가정을 중심으로. 한국가족복지학, 31(3), 177-213.
  7. 김은주 .서영희(2007). 조부모의 손자녀 양육실제에 관한 질적 연구. 아동학회지, 28(2), 175- 192.
  8. 백경흔(2009). 손자녀 돌봄 경험이 여성 건강에 미치는 영향-신체 및 정신 건강을 중심으로-.여성건강, 10(2), 87-112.
  9. 백진아(2013). 중장년 기혼여성의 손자녀 양육경험-돌봄 공백의 가족주의적 대응. 담론 201, 16(3), 67-93.
  10. 보건복지부(2012). 2012 전국보육실태조사-가구조사 보고 -.
  11. 서울시(2012). 통계로 보는 서울 노인의 삶.
  12. 안희란. 김선미(2015). 손자녀 양육지원 경험에 대한 할머니들의 해석에 관한 질적 연구. 한국가족자원경영학회지, 19(1), 93-109.
  13. 육아정책연구소(2014). 출산수준 제고와 일 가정 양립을 위한 육아지원 내실화방안(IV): 맞벌이 가구의 영유아 자녀양육지원 실태 및 개선방안.
  14. 이영희. 이승신. 박미석(2010). 노년층의 손자녀 돌봄활동이 심리적건강과 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향. 한국가정관리학회 2010 추계 학술대회자료집.
  15. 이윤진. 권미경. 김승진(2015). 조부모 영유아 손자녀 양육실태와 지원 방안 연구. 육아정책연구소.
  16. 이희길(2007). 국내패널조사의 현황 분석. 통계청.
  17. 전혜정. 조규영. 박민경. 한세황. Wassel, J.I.(2013). 손자녀 양육자로의 전이가 조부모의 우울과 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향. 한국노년학, 33(3), 515-536.
  18. 정순둘. 박애리. 기지혜(2015). 연구논문:손자녀 돌봄의 종단적 유형과 조부모의 삶의 만족도 및 가족관계 만족도와의 관계에 관한 연구. 조사연구, 16(3), 45-73.
  19. 최인희. 김영란. 염지혜(2012). 100세 시대 대비 여성노인의 가족돌봄과 지원방안 연구. 한국여성정책연구원.
  20. 최해경(2006). 조손가족에 대한 사회적 지지실태와 조부모의 신체적 건강과 정신건강에 미치는 영향. 한국인구학, 29(2), 115-142.
  21. 한국노동연구원(2007). 2006년 고령화패연구 패널조사 사용자 안내서.
  22. Bachman, H. J. & Chase-Lansdale, P. L.(2005). Custodial grandmothers' physical, mental, and economic well-being: Comparisons of primary caregivers from low-income neighborhoods. Family Relations, 54(4), 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00334.x
  23. Baker, L. A. & Silverstein, M. S.(2008). Depressive symptoms among grandparents raising grandchildren: The impact of participation in multiple roles. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 6(3), 285- 304. https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770802157802
  24. Blustein, J., Chan, S. & Guanais, F. C.(2004). Elevated depressive symptoms among caregiving grandparents. Health Services Research, 39(6 Pt 1), 1671-1690. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2004.00312.x
  25. Bowers, B. F. & Myers, B. J.(1999). Grandmothers providing care for grandchildren: consequences of various levels of caregiving. Family Relations, 48(3), 303-311. https://doi.org/10.2307/585641
  26. Burton, L.M. & deVries, C.(1992). Challenges and rewards: african american grandparents as surrogate parents. Generations, 16(3), 51-54.
  27. Burton, L. M.(1992). Black grandparents rearing children of drug-addicted parents: stressors, outcomes, and social service needs. The Gerontologist, 32(6), 744-751. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/32.6.744
  28. Chen, F. & Liu, G.(2012). The health implications of grandparents caring for grandchildren in China. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(1), 99-112.
  29. Coe, N. B. & Van Houtven, C. H.(2009). Caring for mom and neglecting yourself? The health effects of caring for An elderly parent. Health Economics, 18(9), 991-1010. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.1512
  30. Do, Y. K., Norton, E .C., Stearns, S. C., & Van Houtven, C. H.(2015). Informal care and caregiver's health. Health Economics, 24(2), 224-237. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3012
  31. Ehrle, G. M. & Day, H. D.(1994). Adjustment and family functioning of grandmothers rearing their grandchildren. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 16(1), 67-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197603
  32. Forsyth C. J.(1994). Bookers and peacemakers:types of game wardens. Sociological Spectrum:Mid-South Sociological Association, 14(1), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/02732173.1994.9982051
  33. Forsyth, C. J., Roberts, S. B. & Robin, C. A.(1992). Variables influencing life satisfaction among grandparents. International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 22(2), 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/15579336.1992.11770037
  34. Fuller-Thomson, E. & Minkler, M.(2001). American grandparents providing extensive child care to their grandchildren: prevalence and profile. Gerontologist, 41(2), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/41.2.201
  35. Goode, W. J.(1960). A theory of role strain. American Sociological Review, 25(4), 483- 496. https://doi.org/10.2307/2092933
  36. Goodman, C. C. & Silverstein, M.(2001). Grandmothers who parent their grandchildren : An exploratory study of close relations across three generations. Journal of Family, 22(5), 557-578.
  37. Goodman, C. C. & Silverstein, M.(2002). Grandmothers rasing grandchildren family structure and well-being in culturally diverse families. The Gerontologist, 42(5), 676-689. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/42.5.676
  38. Grinstead, L. N. Leder, S., Jensen, S. & Bond, L.(2003). Review of research on the health of caregiving grandparents. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44(3), 318-326. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02807.x
  39. Hank, K. & Buber, I.(2009). Grandparents caring for their grandchildren. Journal of Family Issues, 30(1), 53-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X08322627
  40. Hughes, M., Waite, L., LaPierre, T. & Luo, Y.(2007). All in the family: The impact of caring for grandchildren on grandparents' health. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62(2), 108-119. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/62.2.S108
  41. Jendrek, M. P.(1993). Grandparents who parent their grandchildren, effects on lifestyle. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55(3), 609-621. https://doi.org/10.2307/353342
  42. Kelley, S. J.(1993). Caregiver stress in grandparents raising grandchildren. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 25(4), 331-337. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.1993.tb00268.x
  43. Kivnick, H. Q.(1981). Grandparenthood and the mental health of grand-parents. Ageing and Society, 1(3), 365-391. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X00008965
  44. Ku, L. E., Stearns, S. C., Van Houtven, C. H. & Holmes, G. M.(2012). The health effects of caregiving by grandparents in Taiwan: An instrumental variable estimation. Review of Economics of the Household, 10(4), 521-540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-012-9154-9
  45. Lee, J. & Bauer, J. W.(2013). Motivations for providing and utilizing child care by grandmothers in South Korea. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75(2), 381-402. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12014
  46. Marx, J. & Solomon, J. C.(2000). Physical health of custodial grandparents. in C. B. Cox(Ed.), To grandmother's house we go and stay: Perspectives on custodial grandparents(pp. 37- 55), New York, NY:Springer.
  47. Minkler, M. & Roe, K. M.(1993). Grandmothers as caregivers: Raising children of the crack cocaine epidemic. Sage Publications.
  48. Minkler, M., Roe, K. M., & Price M.(1992). Physical and Emotional Health Status of Grandmothers Raising Children in the Crack Cocaine Epidemic. The Gerontologist, 32(6), 752-761. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/32.6.752
  49. Musil, C. M. & Ahmad, M.(2002). Health of grandmothers: A comparison by caregiver status. Journal of Aging and Health, 14(1), 96-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/089826430201400106
  50. Musil, C. M.(1998). Health, stress, coping, and social support in grandmother caregivers. Health Care for Women International, 19(5), 441-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/073993398246205
  51. Pang, K. Y. C.(2000). Symptom expression and somatization among elderly Korean immigrants. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 6(3), 199-212. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009541200013
  52. Peterson, C. C.(1999). Grandfathers' and grandmothers' satisfaction with the grandparenting role: Seeking new answers to old questions. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 49(1), 61-78. https://doi.org/10.2190/GUDM-6CE3-17WF-7N96
  53. Pruchno, R. A. & McKenney, D.(2002). Psychological well-being of black and white grandmothers raising grandchildren: examination of a two-factor model. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psycho-logical Sciences and Social Sciences, 57(5), 444-452. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.5.P444
  54. Pruchno, R.(1999). Raising grandchildren: The experiences of black and white grandmothers. The Gerontologist, 39(2), 209-221. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/39.2.209
  55. Sands, R. G. & Goldberg-Glen, R. S.(2000). Factors associated with stress among grandparents raising their grandchildren. Family Relations, 49(1), 97-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2000.00097.x
  56. Silverstein, M., Cong, Z. & Li, S.(2006). Intergenerational transfers and living arrangements of older people in rural China: Consequences for psychological well-being. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(5), 256-266. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/61.5.S256
  57. Solomon, J. C. & Marx, J.(2000). The physical, mental, and social health of custodial grandparents. in B. Hayslip & R. Goldberg-Glen (Eds.), Grandparents raising grandchildren: Theoretical, empirical and clinical perspectives(pp. 183-206), New York, NY: Springer.
  58. Staiger, D. & Stock, J. H.(1997). Instrumental Variables Regression with Weak Instruments. Econometrica, 65(3), 557-586. https://doi.org/10.2307/2171753
  59. Szinovacz, M. E., DeViney, S. & Atkinson, M. P.(1999). Effects of surrogate parenting on grandparents' well-being. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 54(6), 376-388.
  60. Waldrop, D. P. & Weber, J. A.(2001). From grandparents to caregiver: The stress and satisfaction of raising grandchildren. Families in Society, 82(5), 461-472. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.177
  61. Wheelock, J. & Jones, K.(2002). Grandparents are the next best thing: Informal childcare for working parents in Urban Britain. Journal of Social Policy, 31(3), 441-463. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279402006657
  62. Winefield, H. & Air, T.(2010). Grandparenting: Diversity in grandparent experiences and needs for healthcare and support. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 8(4), 277- 283. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1609.2010.00187.x