Grandparents Caring for their Grandchildren

TLDR

The 2004 SHARE survey shows that grandparents play a significant role in child care across Europe, complementing U.S. studies, and that these patterns reflect a complex interaction between welfare state services and intergenerational family support shaping the work‑family nexus for younger parents. The study investigates cross‑national variations in grandparent‑provided child care and the differing characteristics of care providers and recipients across ten European countries. Using the SHARE survey data from ten continental European countries, the authors analyze grandparent‑provided child care patterns and provider/recipient characteristics.

Abstract

Introducing findings from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this research complements the large number of recent U.S. studies on the role of grandparents in caring for their grandchildren. For 10 continental European countries, the authors investigate cross-national variations in grandparent-provided child care as well as differences in characteristics of the providers and recipients of care. Although they find strong involvement of grandparents in their grandchildren's care across all countries, they also identify significant variations in the prevalence and intensity of care along the geographic lines of different child care and (maternal or female) employment regimes in Europe. Rooted in long-standing family cultures, the observed patterns suggest a complex interaction between welfare state—provided services and intergenerational family support in shaping the work—family nexus for younger parents. The authors conclude with a brief discussion of possible consequences of grandmothers' increasing labor force participation for child care arrangements.