Grandmothers' support and its effect on mental health among young mothers in Nairobi

In an article for the Journal of Family Issues, Faculty Associate Sangeetha Madhavan and her colleagues investigate the role of grandmothers in providing support to their adult children and grandchildren in Nairobi, Kenya. They focused on grandmothers living in a low-income, urban context where they are both employed and live independently, rather than in intergenerational households. 

The research team used three waves of data from JAMO, a longitudinal study that tracked 1,181 young mothers, to address how grandmothers' employment status and living arrangements influence the support provided to their daughters and grandchildren, and how this support impacts the mental health of young mothers. The study was focused on three aspects: (1) the composition of living grandparents and the types of support offered, (2) the effects of grandmothers' employment and living arrangements on the likelihood of providing support, and (3) the relationship between the support received from grandmothers and the mental health of their daughters. 

Findings from logistic regression models reveal that a status of employed grandmothers who live independently increases the likelihood of their daughters receiving support. In addition, this support is associated with better mental health outcomes for the young mothers. These findings underscore the importance of grandmaternal support in urban, low-income settings and suggest that even when grandmothers are not living in the same household, their support can positively influence the well-being of young mothers.

Madhavan, S., Omuya, M., Schatz, E., & Wainaina, C. (2024). Connecting With Shosho: Assessing the Role of Grandmothers in a Low-Income Population in Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Family Issues, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X241268701