Researchers
Seema Jayachandran

The goal of this proposed research is to examine the effect of being a primary caregiver to grandchildren on the health and economic well-being of grandparents-mainly grandmothers-in the United States. Specifically, the researcher will test the hypothesis that having a daughter relative to a son imposes a cost on women as they age because, first, the rise of out-of-wedlock childbearing means that more new mothers seek help from family members for child care and, second, the norm that the mother's mother provides much of this child care and support. While the phenomenon could be true regardless of socioeconomic status (SES), the hypothesis is that the welfare implications are larger among low-SES groups since early childbearing is more common and low-SES families are often living on the threshold of poverty and poor health.

Contact
Nomita Divi