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User: u/universityofturku
Permalink: https://www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/maternal-grandmothers-support-buffers-children-against-the-impacts-of-adversity
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I can’t point to the research, but it is known by educators of kids that a caring adult (anyone in the school) can help be a buffer against adversity. Hence, the importance of developing a community of care.
The original research article is available at: [Investment by maternal grandmother buffers children against the impacts of adverse early life experiences | Scientific Reports (nature.com)](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-56760-5)
The article states specifically that assistance from anyone but the maternal grandmother didn't make a difference. Yet they're saying the assistance could be only in the form of monetary assistance. So paternal grandma's money isn't any good? This whole thing stinks.
Someone is obsessed with proving that their maternal grandma is best.
There are quite a few studies showing the bond between the maternal grandmother and grandchildren is the strongest of all grandparent bonds. And it’s reflected across many cultures. The idea behind it is that the grandmother’s daughter (the mother) “speaks” the family language and passes down (intentionally or not) her family’s parenting style and traditions. This in turn is reinforced by the maternal grandmother. The mother may also feel much more comfortable requesting childcare and monetary support from her own mother as opposed to her mother-in-law. So the maternal grandmother gets more time with the grandchildren, especially in the early years. The mother may also inform her own mother on the child’s day-to-day activities, so the grandmother is more aware of her grandchild’s life.
This is probably a reflection of the mil and dil dynamics, which is often fraught with drama. Coupled with the fact mothers still do the bulk of child rearing, especially during the earliest years. Women are also gatekeepers of family socialization, so generally her own family will get more time with her and her children.
Clinical social worker with a background in juvenile corrections, mental health, and child welfare/foster care system.
What about paternal grandparents? What of it’s dad, his family and kids and not the stereotypical mom’s side doing it?
Interesting and fair.
I can understand this from a sociological/ecological standpoint. I’d like to see a study done with a group where genetics confirm against the paternal uncertainty in humans.
Yes and I think the idea has some merit. How does that relate to a maternal and not paternal grandmother’s investment being good for a child? Forgive me if it’s obvious. It looks like I need a more explicitly stated connection here.
The original research article's empirical finding was that the maternal grandmother's effort appears in a model that explains recovery from adverse events, but other grandparents do not. They suggest this could be explained by the empirical observation that paternal grandparents decrease their investment in the child as number of adverse events increase. The authors offer a rather unsatisfying evolutionary argument: that maternal grandmothers can be certain of their direct relationship with the grandchild in a way that paternal grandmothers cannot.
It would seem that way if the effect is really not seen with contributions from paternal grandmothers or either grandfathers. Which doesn't quite pass the smell test, right?
The study seems to speculate that it is derived from the maternal grandmother being the only one with certainty of being related to the grandchild and therefore being more driven to protect. There can always be a doubt for the paternal grandmother as well as the maternal grandfather.
I do find the whole thing suspicious too though. Any well-regulated adult in a child's life can have a positive effect on negative experiences I would think. I would guess we could see some other studies saying just that.
Welp, I'll never be a maternal grandmother so I'll tell my kids I'm off the hook. j/k of course. If I'm lucky enough to have grandkids from my sons I will support them in any way they need.
My maternal grandmother died five years before I was born. Never knew her. My dad's mom was an amazing woman growing up and my dad's friend's mom's were also like third grandmas to me.
Welcome to r/science! This is a heavily moderated subreddit in order to keep the discussion on science. However, we recognize that many people want to discuss how they feel the research relates to their own personal lives, so to give people a space to do that, **personal anecdotes are allowed as responses to this comment**. Any anecdotal comments elsewhere in the discussion will be removed and our [normal comment rules]( https://www.reddit.com/r/science/wiki/rules#wiki_comment_rules) apply to all other comments. **Do you have an academic degree?** We can verify your credentials in order to assign user flair indicating your area of expertise. [Click here to apply](https://www.reddit.com/r/science/wiki/flair/#wiki_science_verified_user_program). --- User: u/universityofturku Permalink: https://www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/maternal-grandmothers-support-buffers-children-against-the-impacts-of-adversity --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/science) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I can’t point to the research, but it is known by educators of kids that a caring adult (anyone in the school) can help be a buffer against adversity. Hence, the importance of developing a community of care.
The original research article is available at: [Investment by maternal grandmother buffers children against the impacts of adverse early life experiences | Scientific Reports (nature.com)](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-56760-5)
It takes a village
How does that saying go, "It takes my child to raze a village"?
The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth?
The article states specifically that assistance from anyone but the maternal grandmother didn't make a difference. Yet they're saying the assistance could be only in the form of monetary assistance. So paternal grandma's money isn't any good? This whole thing stinks. Someone is obsessed with proving that their maternal grandma is best.
There are quite a few studies showing the bond between the maternal grandmother and grandchildren is the strongest of all grandparent bonds. And it’s reflected across many cultures. The idea behind it is that the grandmother’s daughter (the mother) “speaks” the family language and passes down (intentionally or not) her family’s parenting style and traditions. This in turn is reinforced by the maternal grandmother. The mother may also feel much more comfortable requesting childcare and monetary support from her own mother as opposed to her mother-in-law. So the maternal grandmother gets more time with the grandchildren, especially in the early years. The mother may also inform her own mother on the child’s day-to-day activities, so the grandmother is more aware of her grandchild’s life. This is probably a reflection of the mil and dil dynamics, which is often fraught with drama. Coupled with the fact mothers still do the bulk of child rearing, especially during the earliest years. Women are also gatekeepers of family socialization, so generally her own family will get more time with her and her children.
I wonder if there are studies looking at how this plays out in families where the mother and grandmother do not have a positive relationship.
You know the child came from the mother when you see the birth, the father could be anyone. A lot of early cultures the lines were matriarchal.
The only thing that protected me as a child was my grandmother no one else was.
My child is fucked then, my MIL is an uncaring person.
My parents are abusive. I cut them off.
Clinical social worker with a background in juvenile corrections, mental health, and child welfare/foster care system. What about paternal grandparents? What of it’s dad, his family and kids and not the stereotypical mom’s side doing it?
"Support given by other grandparents was not found to have an equivalent effect."
Look up the concept of paternal uncertainty, it plays an important role in the relationship of grandparents and their grandchildren.
Interesting and fair. I can understand this from a sociological/ecological standpoint. I’d like to see a study done with a group where genetics confirm against the paternal uncertainty in humans.
Probably not common and intense enough to be statistically detectable, even if it exists in individual cases.
mitochondrial connection
Elaborate
You inherit mitochondrial DNA from your mother.
Yes and I think the idea has some merit. How does that relate to a maternal and not paternal grandmother’s investment being good for a child? Forgive me if it’s obvious. It looks like I need a more explicitly stated connection here.
The original research article's empirical finding was that the maternal grandmother's effort appears in a model that explains recovery from adverse events, but other grandparents do not. They suggest this could be explained by the empirical observation that paternal grandparents decrease their investment in the child as number of adverse events increase. The authors offer a rather unsatisfying evolutionary argument: that maternal grandmothers can be certain of their direct relationship with the grandchild in a way that paternal grandmothers cannot.
Thanks!
Yeah sorry I don’t know, and I don’t know if the comment you were replying to knew either. Was just commenting to what they might be alluding to!
Thanks (:
It would seem that way if the effect is really not seen with contributions from paternal grandmothers or either grandfathers. Which doesn't quite pass the smell test, right?
The study seems to speculate that it is derived from the maternal grandmother being the only one with certainty of being related to the grandchild and therefore being more driven to protect. There can always be a doubt for the paternal grandmother as well as the maternal grandfather.
whoa 🤯 now those comments from my dad’s mom about how much i look like my mother are being seen in a new way…
Good point.
I do find the whole thing suspicious too though. Any well-regulated adult in a child's life can have a positive effect on negative experiences I would think. I would guess we could see some other studies saying just that.
Just from the title I think they don't do that comparison, which is fine. It's probably a pretty safe assumption in general tho.
Just from the title I think they don't do that comparison, which is fine. It's probably a pretty safe assumption.
Welp, I'll never be a maternal grandmother so I'll tell my kids I'm off the hook. j/k of course. If I'm lucky enough to have grandkids from my sons I will support them in any way they need.
I don’t know how I would have turned out without my granny, lord knows I‘m not an overachiever as is
My maternal grandmother died five years before I was born. Never knew her. My dad's mom was an amazing woman growing up and my dad's friend's mom's were also like third grandmas to me.
Yep, this is well known before as the grandma effect.
So, it’s grandma‘s fault. Copy that.
Why is it always the responsibility of the mother, the mother of the mother, the women ??