Abstract
This study examined the effects of grandchild care on the cognitive functioning of Korean grandmothers and the moderating role of education. Data were drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 2,341). Contrary to much of the current literature, grandchild care was found to be potentially beneficial for grandmothers. For the entire sample, child care had instantaneous effects on grandmothers’ cognition, although there were no longitudinal effects. However, when the sample was divided into grandmothers with higher and lower education, child care was both instantaneously and longitudinally beneficial to cognition for grandmothers with higher education. For less educated grandmothers, child care did not have either immediate or lagged effects on cognition. The results partially support the “Use It or Lose It” hypothesis and the “Scaffolding Theory of Cognitive Aging,” suggesting that engagement in social activities is beneficial to cognitive health in later life. Results are congruent with previous studies noting that the effects of grandchild care on grandparents are contingent on various conditions and factors such as the educational level of grandparents.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 500-523 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Research on Aging |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 Jan 1 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Social Psychology
- Health(social science)
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
}
Educational Differences in the Cognitive Functioning of Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren in South Korea. / Jun, Heyjung.
In: Research on Aging, Vol. 37, No. 5, 01.01.2015, p. 500-523.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Educational Differences in the Cognitive Functioning of Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren in South Korea
AU - Jun, Heyjung
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - This study examined the effects of grandchild care on the cognitive functioning of Korean grandmothers and the moderating role of education. Data were drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 2,341). Contrary to much of the current literature, grandchild care was found to be potentially beneficial for grandmothers. For the entire sample, child care had instantaneous effects on grandmothers’ cognition, although there were no longitudinal effects. However, when the sample was divided into grandmothers with higher and lower education, child care was both instantaneously and longitudinally beneficial to cognition for grandmothers with higher education. For less educated grandmothers, child care did not have either immediate or lagged effects on cognition. The results partially support the “Use It or Lose It” hypothesis and the “Scaffolding Theory of Cognitive Aging,” suggesting that engagement in social activities is beneficial to cognitive health in later life. Results are congruent with previous studies noting that the effects of grandchild care on grandparents are contingent on various conditions and factors such as the educational level of grandparents.
AB - This study examined the effects of grandchild care on the cognitive functioning of Korean grandmothers and the moderating role of education. Data were drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 2,341). Contrary to much of the current literature, grandchild care was found to be potentially beneficial for grandmothers. For the entire sample, child care had instantaneous effects on grandmothers’ cognition, although there were no longitudinal effects. However, when the sample was divided into grandmothers with higher and lower education, child care was both instantaneously and longitudinally beneficial to cognition for grandmothers with higher education. For less educated grandmothers, child care did not have either immediate or lagged effects on cognition. The results partially support the “Use It or Lose It” hypothesis and the “Scaffolding Theory of Cognitive Aging,” suggesting that engagement in social activities is beneficial to cognitive health in later life. Results are congruent with previous studies noting that the effects of grandchild care on grandparents are contingent on various conditions and factors such as the educational level of grandparents.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930511494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84930511494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0164027514545239
DO - 10.1177/0164027514545239
M3 - Article
C2 - 25651581
AN - SCOPUS:84930511494
VL - 37
SP - 500
EP - 523
JO - Research on Aging
JF - Research on Aging
SN - 0164-0275
IS - 5
ER -