What this means
Prior research suggests that interactions with young children confer emotional and cognitive benefits to older adults. In the present study, we examine whether such activities are associated with reduced mortality.
A plain-English summary is on its way. Until then, this is the start of the authors' own summary.
- Who it was tested in
- Not stated
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- Older adults' engagement with young children is associated with reduced mortality.
- Authors
- Growney CM, Carstensen LL
- Journal
- Psychology and aging
- Published
- Oct 26, 2026
- Study type
- Study
- PMID
- 42932794 ↗
Abstract
Prior research suggests that interactions with young children confer emotional and cognitive benefits to older adults. In the present study, we examine whether such activities are associated with reduced mortality. Using data from 6,775 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, we examined the relationships of intergenerational engagement in 2010, operationalized as reported frequency of activities with familial and nonfamilial children, to survival as of 2022. Cox proportional hazard model analyses indicated that more frequent intergenerational activity was related to survival over the 12-year period; the effect held after accounting for demographic background variables and physical health as well as overall levels of social activity. As expected, the effect was stronger among older than younger participants, but did not vary by grandparent status. Findings suggest that engaging with younger generations, familial or otherwise, may contribute to longevity, highlighting the potential value of intergenerational experiences across a wide range of social contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Growney CM, Carstensen LL Older adults' engagement with young children is associated with reduced mortality. Psychology and aging. 2026. doi:10.1037/pag0001040. PMID: 42932794. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42932794/