Isovanhemmuuden yhteys mielen hyvinvointiin

As the population ages, the proportion of grandparents in the population increases. Examining the mental well-being of grandparents is important, as merely the absence of mental illness does not capture well-being. Mental well-being, as a positive aspect of mental health, encompasses psychological, social, and emotional well-being. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether there are differences in mental well-being between grandparents and non-grandparents. Additionally, potential factors related to grandparents' mental well-being concerning grandparenthood were explored. The data for the thesis were obtained from the latest data collection phase (TRAILS) of the Jyväskylä Longitudinal study of Personality and Social Development in which the participants were about 61-years (N=206). This age is considered the beginning of late adulthood. Data were collected through a Life Situation Questionnaire, an interview and self report inventories. Assessment of mental well-being included psychological (Scales of Psychological Well-Being), social (Scales of Social Well-Being), and emotional well-being (Life Satisfaction and Happiness). Regarding grandparents, variables included closeness to grandchildren, frequency of meeting grandchildren and perceived importance of the role of grandparenthood. The difference in mental well-being between grandparents and non-grandparents was examined using independent samples t-tests. Factors possibly associated with grandparents' mental well-being were examined using linear regression analysis, first without covariate variables and then with covariate variables added. The covariate variables included gender, education level, financial situation, self-rated health, and relationship status. Of the sample, 112 were grandparents and 94 were not grandparents. Statistically significant differences in mental well-being between grandparents and non-grandparents were not found. Closeness to grandchildren and frequency of meeting grandchildren had significant positive associations with ...