We always knew that grandmas and their grandchildren always have a special bond. I always thought that bond was unexplainable. I guess I was wrong! A new study done by Emory University showed just how special this connection truly is.
This study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal last month and was based on 50 grandmothers. Each of these grandmothers was monitored while they were shown pictures of their children, their grandchildren, and a random adult and child.
These grandmothers were also asked many questions about their relationship with their children and grandchildren. The researchers wanted to see their role in taking care of both.
This study showed that grandmas use a different type of empathy with their grandchildren, which is emotional empathy. They don’t use this empathy with their own kids, but rather cognitive empathy.
This means that grandmas can understand what their child is going through, but wants to emotionally relate more to their grandchildren and what they are feeling. Pretty fascinating huh?
James Rilling, Emory professor of anthropology and author shared in a press release: “What really jumps out in the data is the activation in areas of the brain associated with emotional empathy. That suggests that grandmothers are geared toward feeling what their grandchildren are feeling when they interact with them. If their grandchild is smiling, they’re feeling the child’s joy. And if their grandchild is crying, they’re feeling the child’s pain and distress.”
How cool is that! Hopefully, more research comes out so we can learn more about this relationship and the science behind it!
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22 comments on “Research Proves That The Relationship Between a Grandma and Her Grandchildren is One-of-a-Kind”
Absolutely! The love between a grandmother and her grandchildren is like no other. It’s a feeling that can’t even be explained. It’s LOVR it’s holding your baby’s baby and the feeling is just AWESOME!!! It is a bond that can never be broken.
I am in agreement with this study too. It’s a more relaxed slower building relationship, then when we had our kids things were hectic and busy, working, cooking and cleaning etc all of the things.
This is ABSOLUTLY TRUTH!
I am definitely a grandma who agrees with this findings. Thank you.
I am interested in this article about grandma empathy and would like to learn more. Can you share the source so I can read the entire finding. I am a grandma who definitely agrees with this finding. Thank you.
I think your article is dead on !!! I always empathize with my grandchildren’s feeling. Much different than I did as a mother. Don’t ask me why. That’s just the way I feel. Maybe it’s something I’ve acquired with being older now, maybe more patience with grandkid, or maybe because we don’t live with them and we’re not responsible for raising them. It’s all about seeing them have fun and creating fun times for them. It’s just different as a gramma.
Yes it most definitely is different I wish I knew this sooner because I was so hard on my son and my mom always would tell me leave him alone! But as younger parents I think we all want perfection from our children but that God mine turned out great but I sometimes think I was very hard on him! I HERE BY FO NOT WANT MY EMAIL OR NAME USED For any solicitation purposes, I do not agree to be charged anything either!!!
How is this news? Mothers treating grandchildren with more empathy than their adult children is simply a different phase of parenting. That isn’t to diminish the power of effective, loving parents and grandparents, but parents treat their children differently as they grow from babyhood to adulthood. Same thing… it would be pretty silly to goo goo ga ga over our adult children, just as it would be if you discussed politics and real estate with babies…
Age appropriate relationships and expectations.
I totally agree with you.
I live in a state where they don’t hold grand parents as important people in their grand kids lives. I’m being with held from seeing them after iv been there as an active sport for them since birth
What state do you live in? Going thru something similar.
I can’t see my one any only granddaughter and have no idea why. It been 8 years and my son mad when I ask why. The person he married is VERY NARCISSISTIC, AND BIOPOLOR. I new that much about her 18yr ago. My son will not go against here because, why I don’t know. I have heard some of the things they tell her. The one that she told me about,was that I hurt her dad and he cried (bs)
I told her that there’s 2 sides of everything. So let me tell her my side. Thar really pissed her off and of course she went to my son,so here we go again. You know I don’t care anymore and that’s the truth. Tell you what a narcissist she us. I am not allowed to go to their house. I found this out when the baby chickens were being hatch and ask if I could come see them. My son answered, nah I don’t think so. I won’t what it is that she has been fired twice. Bty the only live 6 miles from me. He had to live with the fact he didn’t come see his dad knowing he had dementi. He told me he didn’t know he was that bad and was in a memory care facility. It’s on his mind but he can’t go back. The same thing is happening to me. He never ask me or calls to see if I’m ok or if I need any help at the house, (which I do). This could go on and on. Seeing the grandmother’s post just set me off because I completely understand
I love being with my granddaughters. I agree with this article, I get their emotions and I want to be on their side but, I want my son and his wife to earn the hard knocks of being the parent and I back off.
I had a wonderful grandmother who was also my friend up to the day she died at 90 and I was 47 and hope to be like her and be friends with my granddaughters as well. You’ve gotta have someone in your corner!!
This story is so inspiring. I am a grandmother. I love my girls too much i drive my daughter nuts. She thinks i am dramatic and exaggerate.
My kids and most importantly my grandchildren are what keep me going! We try to make as many memories as possible.
My older grandkids and I are getting emotionally distanced. They are 14 years old, they used to cry when I was leaving, now they do not care if I am there or not. Is that common and what can I do to bring that closeness again.
Maybe ask them about their interests. Make them yummy snacks. Tell them they are great. The relationship changes when they get older but I love and miss both my grandmas. Teens are so busy.
Hi Tulay, I have two teenage grandchildren and feel much the same way. I would love to know others’ experiences too. However, I try to plan active outings that they will still be interested in (ziplining, amusement parks, etc).
Same thing here. I can tell you during my teen years I became distance from my grandmother as well. It was because I was a self centered teen and it was all about me, me, me! Hang in there. They still love and adore you and you’ve made everlasting memories. There will come a time after their phase is over that they will gravitate back to you. Nothing will ever take your place in their hearts. They’ve just got to do their thing. Don’t ever let them forget how very special they are to you.
Teen agers. My 16 year old grandson is the same way but I know he loves me and with the beauty of cell phones I text him every day anI love you!”
I agree with this article because I was fortunate enough to have one set of grandparents like this!
Unfortunately my adult kids have no grandparents in their lives that they have good memories with…. I have a difficulty in teaching my mom to be their friend and play nice. She’s honestly such a bitch and just ruined a family Christmas by her ugly comments. No reason for this!
I’m there! None of my kids want to spend time with EITHER of their grandparents because my mother ruins everything. She DID manage to hold her tongue this Christmas, but that was only because I threatened to not come at all if they were not invited and she didn’t play nice. (I am the only child still in the area, my sister only comes home once a year because she is so toxic)