Strong bonding with grandparents eases depression

A new study has claimed that grandparents and grandchildren's strong relationship has significant effects on well being of both, long into grandchildren's adulthood.

Sara M. Moorman, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and the Institute on Aging at Boston College, who will present the study at the 108th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, said that they found that an emotionally close grandparent-adult grandchild relationship was associated with fewer symptoms of depression for both generations.

She said that the greater emotional support grandparents and adult grandchildren received from one another, the better their psychological health.

The study also revealed 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.

Moorman, who co-authored the study with Jeffrey E. Stokes, a PhD candidate in sociology at Boston College, said hat grandparents who experienced the sharpest increases in depressive symptoms over time received tangible support, but did not give it.

She asserted that there is a saying that it's better to give than to receive.

Moorman said that their results support that folk wisdom — if a grandparent gets help, but can't give it, he or she feels badly.

She explained that the grandparents expect to be able to help their grandchildren, even when their grandchildren are grown, and it's frustrating and depressing for them to instead be dependent on their grandchildren.

In their study, the researchers used data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations, a survey of 3- and 4-generation U.S. families that included seven waves of data collection between 1985 and 2004.

The sample was comprised of 376 grandparents and 340 grandchildren. The average grandparent was born in 1917 and the average grandchild in 1963, making them 77 years old and 31 years old, respectively, at the midpoint of the study in 1994.

3 Ways that Technology Interrupts our Minds

There are few teens at this point who are not constantly texting and connected to Facebook or other social media. As wonderful as technology has been by bringing information to us within seconds, it has also impeded our ability to think without interruptions and to fully utilize our mental abilities. With the new school year right around the corner, here are some ideas to consider.
1. Smart phones, iPads and computers prevent anyone from working their minds for longer than 30 seconds to remember anything.
How long does a teenager think to recall a famous person’s name or the name of a movie before “looking it up” aka “googling it”? How long do you wait to remember something before looking it up on your phone or online? 30 seconds? Barely! I am guilty of this myself.
We are not exercising our ability to recall information and to strengthen our memories. The more we work to access information, the better. Think of your mind as a muscle that needs to be worked. We want our children to grow into strong minded adults, not adults with minds that have become lazy and unable to recall information without the help of a device.
2. Technology interrupts complete or full thoughts.
The last time you had a profound thought that promoted your growth or increased your understanding, what were you doing at that moment? Were you sitting in front of your TV with your lap top on the couch and your smart phone in your hand while you were checking Facebook? I doubt it.
Likewise, while children or teens are attempting to learn school material like math, science, or social studies, those types of distractions do not allow for deeper understandings of the material. Our minds are amazing; they are the source of our creativity, motivation, and understandings of the world. However, our minds need time to create thoughts and make connections.
Our minds needs time to create memories without interruption from a text or Facebook post. The information needs to sink in so that we have the opportunity to reflect on it in a meaningful way.
3. Technology creates a high need for stimulation.
Cell phones and the internet definitely did not create the classic expression “this is boring”, but it has decreased our interest in consuming less stimulating information. Young people who have been exposed to the internet and cell phones for their entire lives have adapted to receiving information with fast talking, quickly moving screens, and bright colors. I believe that it makes it harder for young people to have the ability to be interested in reading an entire book, or absorbing information that is dry.
Unfortunately, not all valuable information is delivered in visually stimulating and attention-grabbing ways. Most of the information we should learn and understand regarding the world, our country, and other important topics are not perceived as fun or exciting and therefore may be skipped over or ignored.
Technology has helped to improve our society in numerous ways and created personal conveniences, but we should be intelligent consumers. Is the Facebook post or text message you are about to read at any moment worth the cost of interrupting your thinking or learning? We should be benefiting from technology without compromising our own mental potential. After all, the next thought you have may change your life. And for our young people, we should allow them the opportunity to have thoughts of their own, uninterrupted.

 

 

 

 

Dr. James C. Dobson once said “there are very few certainties that touch us all in this mortal experience, but one of the absolutes is that we will experience hardship and stress at some point.” Stress may be inevitable, but how we handle it is our choice.

4 Tips To Change the Way You Deal with Stress

By Donna M. White, LMHC, CACP

Stress is different for all individuals, so there is no “cookie cutter” solution to manage it. You may have to experiment to find what works best for you. Finding healthy, positive ways to deal with stress will add to your overall well-being.
When dealing with stressful situations, consider the four points below. They may aid in decreasing the amount of stress and changing the way you view it.

1. Nothing and no one can “make” you feel anything. How you feel and the way you deal with a situation is a choice. I’m reminded of a counselor who would often state “no one can drive your car unless you give them the keys.” You cannot control others’ actions, but you can be responsible for your reactions. The serenity prayer states “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” When applied, this can be a great stress reliever. Look at the situation and ask yourself “is this something I can change?” If so, start exploring positive ways to change the situation.
   If the situation cannot be changed, such as an illness or the economy, accept it for what it is. Accepting does not mean giving up. By accepting the situation and finding ways you can cope with what cannot be changed, stress can be drastically reduced.
   
2. Exchange attitude for gratitude. Our attitude has a profound effect on how we deal with situations. Negative attitudes affect our physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. When in a particularly stressful situation, try exchanging attitude for gratitude. When you are running late for a meeting because you are stuck in traffic, change your attitude. Instead of being frustrated about the traffic, find some gratitude. Look around and think of all the things you can be thankful for. Sometimes you can find gratitude in the smallest things. You can be thankful for life, health, strength, friends, family, nature, etc. Focusing on gratitude can definitely change your attitude.
   
3. Relax, relax, relax. Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. If we do not help ourselves, how can we effectively help others? Relaxation rejuvenates the body, mind, and spirit and leaves us better equipped to handle stressful situations when they come. Try to find something that you enjoy and do it every day. If you can set aside time for relaxation, do it. Try to set aside a designated, uninterrupted time and stick to it. Many people state they don’t have time to relax, but relaxation does not have to be time-consuming. Relaxation can include periodic 5-10 minute breaks of breathing exercises or watching your favorite show for 30 minutes. Relaxation can also include connecting with positive people.
   
4. Look at the big picture. Evaluate your stressful situation from a “big picture” point of view. Ask yourself “how important is this?” and “will this matter in the long run?” If the answer is no, it’s likely not worth your time and energy.

Stress does not have to be a part of life. Success stress management is all about learning how and when to take control. It’s important to remember that you control how stress affects you. You can control the stress or let stress control you.
“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
- Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

President Obama Speaks at the National Conference on Mental Health

President Obama delivers remarks to open the National Conference on Mental Health at the White House, part of the Administration’s effort to launch a national conversation to increase understanding and awareness about mental health.