Absolutely!

This work is a collaboration with the ERC-ECHO project team (IEGD-CSIC): Guillermo Gómez, Clara Bueno, Néstor Aldea, @borchgrevink.bsky.social & Alberto Palloni

This dynamic is likely more complex though. We argue that the grandparent effect isn’t disappearing but shifting from enhancing reproductive fitness (child survival, basic nutrition) to supporting social fitness (eg, cognitive and non-cognitive skills). More on this here: osf.io/preprints/os...

Results suggest that as populations experience demographic and epidemiological transitions, the net flow of grandparental support may decline, reflecting aging populations and shifting health profiles.

In countries with high fertility & mortality, co-residence with grandparents—especially grandmothers—provides clear nutritional benefits for children. But as populations age and chronic illnesses become more common in post-transitional contexts, these benefits tend to weaken.

Consistent with earlier studies, we find that co-residence with grandmothers is, on average, associated with reduced stunting among grandchildren. But the pattern isn’t universal: there’s wide variation across countries.