As we all know, grandparents love to look after on their grandchildren, Therefore, when there is an opportunity to babysit, most grandparents are very happy to take that challenge.
According to the journal of Evolution and Human Behavior, this research has examined data from the Berlin Aging Study with a focus on 500 people aged 70 and up.
Fortunately, it has shown that grandparents who had looked after their grandchildren had a lower risk of dying over a 20-year period. Therefore, if you are planning to become a grandparent anytime sooner, this is a good news for you, babysitting grandkids can extend your lifespan.
“There is a link between providing this care and reducing stress. If providing this care to [grand kids] and others…is one way that we can actually reduce stress, then these activities should be of benefit to folks who are grandparents and provide this care.” Said Dr. Ronan Factora.
Furthermore, as per the Berlin Aging Study, it didn’t matter whether it was their own grandkids or someone else’s. Senior citizens who have babysat has a long lifespan.
According to Berlin Aging Study, you can see several explanations below, why babysitting may extend an older person’s life.
• staying physically active, mentally sharp and socially engaged
• providing a sense of purpose, which leads to happiness
• preventing depression that can stem from social isolation
However, Dr. Factora Stated that,
“You want to make sure that you find that right balance where you are doing what you can to stay active, doing good for the folks that you’re helping out with, but don’t do too much where you get to the point where you’re overly stressed,”
“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.”
– Alex Haley
