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family structure & child outcomes
The operative claimInvolved (non-custodial) grandparents are associated with modestly better grandchild adjustment — fewer emotional and behavioral problems and more prosocial behavior — with the protective association strongest in single-parent, divorced, or high-adversity families; the evidence is correlational and confounded, effects are small, and custodial grandparent care shows the opposite association, driven by the adversity that necessitated it.
Contested. Involved (non-custodial) grandparents are associated with modestly better grandchild adjustment, especially in adversity, but the evidence is correlational and custodial grandparent care shows the opposite.
Supported by large adolescent surveys (Attar-Schwartz et al., 2009) and studies in divorced and single-parent families (Ruiz & Silverstein, 2007; Jappens & Van Bavel, 2019; Henderson et al., 2009) showing a compensatory benefit of grandparent involvement. By contrast, a systematic review finds grandchildren in CUSTODIAL grandparent care fare worse than peers raised by parents (Xu et al., 2022) — a selection effect, not evidence that grandparenting harms.
Attar-Schwartz, S., Tan, J.-P., Buchanan, A., Flouri, E., & Griggs, J (2009). Grandparenting and adolescent adjustment in two-parent biological, lone-parent, and step-families. Journal of Family Psychology.
Observational
Greater grandparent involvement was associated with fewer emotional problems and more prosocial behavior, with a stronger protective association among adolescents in lone-parent and step-families.
Bearing on this claim: Large survey: grandparent involvement -> fewer emotional problems, more prosocial; stronger in lone-parent/step.
doi.org/10.1037/a0014383Ruiz, S. A., & Silverstein, M (2007). Relationships with Grandparents and the Emotional Well-Being of Late Adolescent and Young Adult Grandchildren. Journal of Social Issues.
Observational
Greater cohesion with grandparents was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, particularly among grandchildren raised in single-parent families — consistent with a compensatory role.
Bearing on this claim: Grandparent cohesion -> fewer depressive symptoms, esp. single-parent families.
doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2007.00537.xJappens, M., & Van Bavel, J (2019). Relationships with Grandparents and Grandchildren's Well-being after Parental Divorce. European Sociological Review.
Observational
Stronger grandchild-grandparent relationships were positively associated with grandchildren subjective well-being; the benefit was greater for grandchildren of divorced parents and those exposed to frequent interparental conflict.
Bearing on this claim: Close grandparent ties -> better well-being after divorce / amid conflict.
doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcz033Henderson, C. E., Hayslip, B., Sanders, L. M., & Louden, L (2009). Grandmother-Grandchild Relationship Quality Predicts Psychological Adjustment Among Youth From Divorced Families. Journal of Family Issues.
Observational
Maternal grandmother-grandchild relationship quality predicted psychological adjustment, and the link was more salient for youth from divorced than intact families.
Bearing on this claim: Grandmother relationship quality predicts adjustment, more salient for divorced families.
View sourceCounter-authority (1). Studies an adversary may cite — surfaced deliberately so the grade is honest about its limits.
Xu, Y., Wu, Q., Levkoff, S. E., & Jedwab, M (2022). Mental/behavioural health and educational outcomes of grandchildren raised by custodial grandparents: A mixed methods systematic review. Health & Social Care in the Community.
Systematic review
CONTRAST: grandchildren raised by CUSTODIAL grandparents had WORSE mental/behavioural and educational outcomes than peers raised by biological parents — reflecting the adversity that necessitated custodial care, and distinguishing custodial caregiving from supplementary involvement.
Bearing on this claim: Custodial grandchildren fare worse than peers — selection effect, distinct from involvement.
doi.org/10.1111/hsc.138764 supporting · 1 counter verified sources
Evidence is largely cross-sectional and confounded by family resources and the reasons grandparents become involved; effects are small; and custodial-care findings reflect selection, not a grandparenting effect.
Last reviewed June 28, 2026