The Impact of the Pandemic on Children and Caregivers

A study led by Washington State University found that the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US led to a surge of nearly 510,000 children living in "doubled-up" households, with most of them living with grandparents. This increase in co-residing households was driven by the need for economic and instrumental support, such as childcare, outweighing concerns about spreading COVID-19 to vulnerable older relatives. However, the surge was temporary, and households returned to expected levels in 2021. The study highlights the importance of family ties as a safety net in the US, but also emphasizes that doubling up is not the preference for Americans, as they strive to live independently when possible.