Grandchild Care and Its Links to Disability and Depressive Symptoms Among Urban Residents Aged 60 and Older

Background/Objectives: In traditional Chinese culture, grandparents often help care for grandchildren, especially in urban areas where parents face high work and life pressures. However, the physical and psychological impacts of grandchild care on older adults remain debatable. This study explored the associations between grandchild care, disability, and depressive symptoms among urban older adults, and examined whether disability mediates this link. Methods: Data were from the 2018 CHARLS study, including 1872 urban participants aged ≥60 years with grandchildren. Disability and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), respectively. Group comparisons, multivariable logistic regression, and mediation analysis were performed. Results: Among caregivers, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.2% and the prevalence of disability was 20.4%, both lower than among non-caregivers in unadjusted comparisons, though grandchild care was not independently significant in multivariable models. Female, disability, and depressive symptoms were significant risk correlates, while higher education, greater physical activity, and social participation were protective. The mediation analysis suggested that functional status partially mediated the relationship between grandchild care and depressive symptoms (proportion mediated = 33.70%). Conclusions: Grandchild care was associated with better physical and mental health among urban older adults in descriptive comparisons, though this association was attenuated in adjusted models. While moderate intergenerational involvement may offer social and psychological benefits, excessive caregiving burden should be prevented.