'The mental health of aging men is an understudied social issue. Although it is widely accepted that meaningful family relationships are associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater positive affect, scholars have largely overlooked relationships between grandfathers and grandchildren as being beneficial to men's mental health,' scientists writing in the American Journal of Mens Health report (see also Mental Health).
'This study investigates the differences in the depressive symptoms and positive affect of 351 grandfathers. Using a cluster analytic technique, participants were categorized as involved, passive, and disengaged based on their frequency of contact, level of commitment, and participation in activities with grandchildren. Comparative analyses indicate that involved grandfathers had fewer depressive symptoms than disengaged grandfathers. Involved grandfathers had significantly higher scores on positive affect than disengaged grandfathers, and passive grandfathers had significantly higher scores on positive affect than disengaged grandfathers. This study provides evidence that grandfather-grandchild relationships influence aging men's mental health,' wrote J.S. Bates and colleagues, East Carolina University.
The researchers concluded: 'Implications for practitioners working with aging men are discussed.'
Bates and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Mens Health (Grandfather Involvement and Aging Men's Mental Health. American Journal of Mens Health, 2012;6(3):229-239).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting J.S. Bates, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.
The publisher of the American Journal of Mens Health can be contacted at: Sage Publications Inc, 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
Keywords: City:Greenville, State:North Carolina, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America
This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
