Grandchild contact and grandparents' positive and negative emotions in daily life: An analysis using self-report and language use data

OBJECTIVES: Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren are a vital aspect of family life, yet little is known about how grandchild contact affects grandparents' emotions in daily life. This study aims to examine the short-term impact of grandchild contact on grandparents' positive and negative emotions.

METHODS: Analyzing a sample of 125 grandparents from the "Daily Experiences and Wellbeing study" followed over 5 days (6 assessments per day) with multilevel structural equation modeling, we compared grandparents' positive and negative emotions when being with their grandchildren to contact with close others and to time with their spouse or alone. Additionally, using snippets of ambient sound recordings, we investigated whether grandparents used more positive and fewer negative emotion-related words when they had contact with grandchildren compared to time spent with others.

RESULTS: Interactions with grandchildren were associated with increased positive emotions, especially more love and pride, and a higher use of positive words compared to interactions with other close social members and time spent alone or with a spouse. We found limited evidence that grandparents also reported feeling sadder and more worried when with their grandchildren, although these effects were less robust.

DISCUSSION: Our findings, based on multiple assessment methods (self-report and language use), indicate that grandchild contact is associated with increases in specific self-reported emotions, which are also mirrored in the language used in daily life. These particular emotions (love and pride) may highlight the unique relationship between grandchildren and grandparents, marked by affection and opportunities to express generativity.