Little treasures they may well be – but looking after the grandchildren on a regular basis can be bad for your mental health, according to research. A study has shown it significantly raises the risk of depression, especially in older grandparents tasked with looking after demanding youngsters under the age of six. A study has shown that looking after grandchildren significantly raises the risk of depression, especially in older grandparents tasked with looking after demanding youngsters under sixResearchers quizzed more than 400 elderly couples on how often they looked after their grandchildren and whether they suffered any problems with low mood. The findings, published in the journal BMC Psychology, revealed no links with depression among younger grandparents in their fifties. But among those in their sixties, there was a significant increase in risk – especially if the grandchildren were under six.

Source: Daily Mail January 24, 2026 04:37 UTC