The Role of Grandparental Sensitivity and Parental Sensitivity in Infant Cognitive Development in China: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Grandparental caregiving is common in China, which can directly impact grandchild development. In addition, grandparents may have an indirect impact on children through their relationship with and support of the parents. However, associations between grandparenting, parenting, and child outcomes are rarely investigated. The current study is a pilot study which includes 42 mothers, fathers, and co-residing grandparents in China, and examines whether grandparental sensitivity relates to parental sensitivity (biological child of the grandparent), and whether grandparental sensitivity and maternal and paternal sensitivity each uniquely contribute to 14-month-old children’s Executive Function (EF). Results did not show a significant relation between parental and grandparental sensitivity or a unique contribution of sensitivity from mothers, fathers, or grandparents to infant EF. Our findings from exploratory analyses showed differences in sensitivity of grandparents and parents towards the third generation but did not confirm a combined effect of multiple caregivers on infant EF development in China.