How Do Grandparents Invest in Grandchildren?

Kin selection theory explains hour individuals can increase inclusive fitness through tradeoffs and investment of care in children. Most research focuses on direct care methods, such as meeting physical needs of children, rather than indirect methods of care such as financial and emotional support. The roles of grandparents are important and are felt at every age level in grandchildren. This relationship has beneficial effects including past knowledge, support, mentoring, and direct care and indirect care methods. Recent studies have been conducted to see what physical and mental benefits are gained by investing in grandchildren in a variety of social conditions. I interviewed 30 local seniors who are grandparents to understand how they invest in their grandchildren. I found that there were six themes of care that grandparents use to improve the wellbeing of grandchildren including time support, financial support, direct support, emotional support, distant support, and travel support. Proximity to grandchildren showed the most investment of time, direct support, and emotional support. For grandchildren living distantly, there was investment, but numbers were lower due to limited access. Circumstances of need also shape how grandparents invest in their grandchildren, either of the family as a whole or individually largely in time, financial, and direct support.