Like the saying goes, “There’s no place like home, except for Nonna’s!”
However, the above statement is more than just a fun saying, it is actually proven by a study! According to a study from The University of Oxford, children who grow up with their grandparents are better able to cope with adverse childhood events as well as trauma. The study suggests that grandparent involvement is, “strongly associated with reduced adjustment difficulties in all family types, but particularly so amongst adolescences from divorced or separated families.”
The study included 1,500 children who grew up with their grandparents. These children were found to have secure and developed identities. The study also showed that grandmothers helped children feel a sense of comfort and grandfathers helped with mentoring activities.
Furthermore, another study published in the journal The Gerontologist found similar information. The study found that the closer the kinship between grandparent and grandchild, the less likely children are to develop depressive symptoms. It is evident that having a close support system can truly help individuals get through hardships in life so if you come from a close Italian family, consider yourself very fortunate.
Sources:
- Main Image: PXHere
- Studies: The Gerontologist, The University of Oxford
