Depressive symptoms of older adults in Hong Kong: the role of grandparent reward

This study explored the relationship between depressive symptoms and grandparent reward among older adults in Hong Kong. Some 215 older people, whose youngest grandchildren were 12 years or older, were recruited from elderly service agencies. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained interviewers using a standardized questionnaire. Hierarchical regression showed that the depressive symptoms of the respondents were affected significantly by perceived relation-oriented grandparent reward (R-2 change = 0.07, F-change = 8.67, p < 0.001), controlling for demographic characteristics, general social support, attitude toward Chinese tradition, self-rated health, and self-rated financial adequacy. Policy and practice aimed at assuaging depression in the Chinese context should pay attention to the roles of intergenerational activities beyond nuclear families. Efforts to promote grandparent roles in a modernized China, in the face of transforming living arrangements and child-rearing practices, need to focus on intergenerational activities that enhance esteem and provide positive experiences embedded in interpersonal relations.