A recent study suggests that among four grandparents, maternal grandmothers often exert the strongest influence on grandchildren’s well-being. This finding adds depth to Thai family life discussions about intergenerational care and support in modern households.
In Thai culture, grandparents play a central role. Many families rely on extended kin, especially in rural areas, where grandparents frequently help care for children as parents work or migrate for economic reasons. Understanding which grandparent carries the greatest influence can help families plan support and guide policymakers in promoting child welfare.
The international study highlights a consistent pattern: maternal grandmothers—grandmothers on the mother’s side—tend to have the most significant impact on children’s psychological, emotional, and, at times, physical health. Researchers point to close proximity, strong emotional bonds, and the certainty of maternal biological connection as contributing factors. The findings echo a long-standing concept in anthropology often referred to as the grandmother hypothesis, cited by research from leading institutions.
Across cultures, including Thailand, maternal grandmothers are frequently more involved in day-to-day caregiving. A senior lecturer in social sciences from a prominent Bangkok university notes that in rural Isaan and northern communities, grandmothers often provide practical help and anchor family values. When families face disruptions such as parental separation, the maternal grandmother is often the steady presence children rely on.
The implications extend beyond individual households. Thailand’s National Statistical Office has reported that more than two million children are raised primarily by grandparents due to working-age adults migrating to cities. This “skip-generation” pattern underscores the importance of grandparent support networks and highlights the need for targeted resources that ease caregiving burdens, particularly for maternal grandmothers.
Thai culture places great emphasis on elder respect and social harmony. The idea of bunkun—gratitude toward benefactors—often shapes intergenerational dynamics. Still, experts caution against overgeneralizing or assigning caregiving duties by gender. A pediatrician affiliated with a major public hospital emphasizes that grandfathers and paternal relatives also contribute meaningfully. The most beneficial family environment arises when all elders participate, regardless of lineage, while recognizing distinct contributions each grandparent offers.
As Thailand’s population ages and more families rely on elder caregivers, these insights become increasingly relevant. While all four grandparents enrich a child’s life, supporting maternal grandmother networks—through health services, financial aid, and educational resources—may yield meaningful benefits for Thailand’s next generation.
For Thai families, experts advocate maintaining strong maternal family ties, encouraging grandparents’ involvement in everyday child-rearing, and pursuing workplace policies that accommodate grandparent caregivers. Policymakers are encouraged to fund community programs that acknowledge the practical and emotional labor of elder family members.
This evolving understanding affirms the enduring value of grandparents in Thai society, particularly maternal grandmothers, in nurturing resilient, thriving children.