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Cited by 14Intergenerational Family Dynamics and CaregivingMaternal and Neonatal HealthcareInfant Development and Preterm Care

A qualitative study on the perspectives of Turkish mothers and grandmothers in the Netherlands regarding the influence of grandmothers on health related practices in the first 1000 days of a child’s life

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Bektas, Gülcan, Boelsma, Femke, Gündüz, Meryem, Klaassen, Eva N., Seidell, Jacob C., Wesdorp, Carline L., Dijkstra, S. Coosje·2022·BMC Public Health
DOI 10.1186/s12889-022-13768-8PMC PMC9287533
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Abstract

Background: Given the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life in terms of laying the foundations for healthy growth and development, parents are a logical target group for supporting health-related practices with regard to young children. However, little attention is paid to the influence of the wider social community on the health and development of young children during this crucial period. This includes grandmothers, who often have a significant influence on health-related practices of their grandchildren. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the influence of grandmothers on health related practices of their grandchildren during the first 1000 days, from the perspectives of both grandmothers and mothers with a Turkish background. Method: This qualitative study in the Netherlands collected data during focus group discussions with grandmothers (N = 3), interviews with grandmothers (N = 18) and interviews with mothers (N = 16), all with a Turkish background. Data was collected in the period between June 2019 and April 2021 and analysed using a thematic content analysis. Results: The influence of grandmothers and the wider social community on health related practices during the first 1000 days of a child’s life is substantial and self-evident. The support of grandmothers is often rooted in various socio-cultural norms and practices. The mothers of young children can experience the guidance and pressure they receive from grandmothers and the wider social community as quite stressful. Conflicting views and practices tend to arise between grandmothers and mothers when a grandmother babysits. Both mothers and grandmothers often find it difficult to discuss these differences openly, for fear this might lead to a family conflict. Conclusion: This study shows that grandmothers and the wider social community play an influential role in supporting a healthy first 1000 days of a child’s life. The strong involvement of grandmothers may lead to tension between the mothers and grandmothers when their ideas about healthy practices are not in agreement and may lead to unhealthy practices. In targeting this wider social community, it is important to consider the various socio-cultural factors that underlie the advice, support, practices and beliefs of the individuals involved.

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  • In low- and middle-income countries such as Türkiye, there is a paucity of research examining how sociocultural influences, family dynamics, and healthcare interactions shape maternal emotional health.

    “In particular, in low- and middle-income countries such as Türkiye, there is a paucity of research examining how sociocultural influences, family dynamics, and healthcare interactions shape maternal emotional health [18, 19].”

    From Understanding mothers’ lived experiences of postpartum depression: a qualitative phenomenological study (2025) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Introduction says research on Turkish-background grandmothers’ influence on children’s health in the Netherlands has been limited, and the Discussion notes that family pressure could negatively affect mothers’ mental health. Neither passage establishes a paucity of research in Türkiye on how sociocultural influences, family dynamics, and healthcare interactions shape maternal emotional health. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Bektas, G., Boelsma, F., Gündüz, M., Klaassen, E. N., Seidell, J. C., Wesdorp, C. L., & Dijkstra, S. C.
Affiliations
  • Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
  • Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (NL)
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Dijkstra, S. Coosje
ORCID
Venue
BMC Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-07-16
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
1364-1364
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12889-022-13768-8
PMC
PMC9287533
OpenAlex
W4285587244
Cited by
14
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2
FWCI
3.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
Keywords
grandmother, maternal grandmother, first 1000 days, child health practices, intergenerational influence, Turkish mothers, Turkish immigrants, grandparenting, sociocultural norms, family conflict, social support, child development
MeSH terms
Grandparents, Female, Humans, Mothers, Netherlands, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research

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