The Impact of Retirement and Grandchild Caregiving on Mental Health in China: The Role of Intergenerational Support

Background This study explores the impact of retirement, grandchild caregiving, and intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults in China, focusing on how these factors interact. Methods Using data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we employed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, Instrumental Variables (IV) regression, and Multiple Imputation regression to address potential endogeneity and missing data. Results Retirement is significantly associated with improved mental health, particularly among older adults with lower caregiving burdens (β = -0.435, p < 0.001). In contrast, higher caregiving intensity is linked to poorer mental health (β = 0.00094, p = 0.001). Satisfaction with parent-child relationships plays a protective role in mental health (β = -0.209, p < 0.001), and financial support to children is negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β= -0.023, p = 0.031). These findings underscore the interconnectedness of retirement, caregiving, and intergenerational support. Conclusion Extending the working age, without offering meaningful support, can lead to growing mental health issues among older adults—especially those already managing the demands of grandchild care. Any policy aimed at postponing retirement should be accompanied by tangible resources: local respite programs, training workshops tailored for elder caregivers, and even modest subsidies for childcare. These efforts not only provide relief—they also enable grandparents to emotionally recover while continuing to support their families without compromising their own well-being. Specifically, interventions such as local respite programs, targeted caregiver workshops, and even modest childcare subsidies could provide meaningful support.