The Experiences of African American Grandmothers in Grandparent-Headed Families

Abstract

Grandparents raising their grandchildren in parent-absent homes are an increasing family structure. A myriad of family and societal problems create the need for the grandparent to assume caregiving responsibilities, including child maltreatment, parental substance abuse, and poverty. Although grandparent-headed families (GHF) are represented across racial, gender, and socioeconomic groups, single, low-income African American grandmothers from urban environments experience this family structure in disproportionately higher rates. Due to their higher prevalence, and the relative lack of attention in the existing literature, African American grandmother caregivers are the focus of this research. The present study is an exploratory study of the qualitative experiences of African American grandmothers who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. Individual interviews were conducted with 6 grandmother caregivers, revealing 5 major themes. Results are discussed, and directions for future research and implications for counselors working with GHF are presented.