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Did you know ? A specific family member would help your children overcome the little glitches and difficulties of life.
Uncles, aunts, cousins… Many family members contribute to the child’s development. The diversity of these interactions indeed enriches their social and cognitive development. However, one member in particular seems to hold a key role: the maternal grandmother.
The grandmother, a family pillar for the child
For this investigation, scientists from the University of Turku (Finland) relied on data from a study carried out in 2007 among 1,566 young people from England and Wales aged 11 to 16. The researchers’ goal was simple: to scan their emotional and behavioral state.
However, after going through the candidates’ answers, the researchers noticed that the maternal grandmother seemed to play a crucial role in the child’s life.
Our main conclusion was that the investment of maternal grandmothers seemed to be able to protect their grandchildren of the negative influence of multiple negative experiences during their early childhood”relates Samuli Helle, principal researcher of this study.
Indeed, certain negative experiences, such as “abuse, neglect, having an incarcerated parent, witnessing violence” modify “brain development and have an impact on the body’s response to stress“, estimates the scientist, before continuing: they have “negatively impact their ability to develop healthy relationships, pay attention, learn and make decisions”.
However, maternal grandmothers would have a magical “band-aid” effect: they would prevent and alleviate these bad experiences… even if they cannot always “fully protect grandchildren from the effects of negative events”, specify the researchers.
Growing up alongside one’s maternal grandmother would thus offer significant additional “support” to the child.
Interestingly: this “protective effect” or “buffering” was not valid in other relatives (in this study).
Grandmothers also win
Good news for “babysitter” grandmothers and grandfathers: taking care of your grandchildren allows you to gain a few precious “years of life”.
According to a survey carried out among 500 people aged 70 and published on the site Science Directthe mortality risks of grandparents who look after their grandchildren are, in fact, greatly reduced (-37%).
And for good reason: these guards would reduce stress and boost the brain performance of elderly people (memory, etc.).
Reason enough to send your little one off to his grandparents this weekend.
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