Psychological boost for and from grandparents.

• Position: Family Relationships

Grandparents and grandkids have real, measurable effects on each other's psychological well-being long into grandchildren's adulthood. 'We found that an emotionally close grandparent-adult grandchild relationship was associated with fewer symptoms of depression for both generations," says Sara M. Moorman, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and the Institute on Aging at Boston (Mass.) College.

"The greater emotional support grandparents and adult grandchildren received from one another the better their psychological health."

The study also reveals that giving tangible support to--or receiving it from--their grandchildren affected the psychological well-being of grandparents, but not grandchildren. Tangible support, also called functional solidarity or instrumental support, includes anything from rides to the store and money to assistance with household chores and advice.

"Grandparents who experienced the sharpest increases in depressive symptoms over lime received tangible support, but did not give it," notes Moorman. "There's a saying, It's better to give than to receive.' Our results support that folk wisdom--if a grandparent gets help, but can't give...