Viviane Kovess Masfety1, Carlijn Aarnink2, Roy Otten2, Adina Bitfoi3, Zlatka Mihova4, Sigita Lesinskiene5, Mauro Giovanni Carta6, Dietmar Goelitz7, Mathilde Husky8. 1. Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, EA 4057 Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. vkovess@gmail.com. 2. Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 3. The Romanian League for Mental Health, Bucharest, Romania. 4. New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria. 5. Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania. 6. Psychiatric Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 7. University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. 8. Institut Universitaire de France, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between the presence of a grand parent at home that is three-generation household, with children mental health in diverse countries whether this situation is frequent or not. METHODS: Data from the School Children Mental Health in Europe cross-sectional survey in six countries (n = 4582) were used to examine the association between three-generation households and child mental health across Europe. The parent and teacher Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was combined to assess child mental clinical problems. RESULTS: Overall, 25.13% of European families live with at least one grandparent: 5.46% in Western and 29.70% in Eastern Europe. Controlling for key sociodemographic variables and for country of residence, the presence of a grandparent is associated with an increased risk for child mental health problems in the total sample (OR 1.37, p = 0.002). In two-parent homes, the effect of the presence of a grandparent is significant (OR 1.40, p = 0.026), while it is not in single-parent homes. In each country, the presence of a grandparent is a risk for either externalizing or internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: Programs may be developed to educate elderly people to better respect their children's role as parents so having a grandparent in the home can become an asset for family members rather than a burden.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between the presence of a grand parent at home that is three-generation household, with children mental health in diverse countries whether this situation is frequent or not. METHODS: Data from the School Children Mental Health in Europe cross-sectional survey in six countries (n = 4582) were used to examine the association between three-generation households and child mental health across Europe. The parent and teacher Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was combined to assess child mental clinical problems. RESULTS: Overall, 25.13% of European families live with at least one grandparent: 5.46% in Western and 29.70% in Eastern Europe. Controlling for key sociodemographic variables and for country of residence, the presence of a grandparent is associated with an increased risk for child mental health problems in the total sample (OR 1.37, p = 0.002). In two-parent homes, the effect of the presence of a grandparent is significant (OR 1.40, p = 0.026), while it is not in single-parent homes. In each country, the presence of a grandparent is a risk for either externalizing or internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: Programs may be developed to educate elderly people to better respect their children's role as parents so having a grandparent in the home can become an asset for family members rather than a burden.
Entities:
Keywords:
Child mental health; European countries; Family; Grandparents