Custodial Grandparent Research Articles

Representations of family relationships in children living with custodial grandparents

Children's representations of family relationships were examined in relation to grandparent responsivity and depression, family sociodemographic risks, and children's behavior problems in custodial grandparent families. Using multiple methods, data were collected from 79 families with children aged 3 to 7.5 years. In 37 families, children were raised by grandparents as the result of maternal incarceration and, in 42 families, children lived with grandparents because of other parental problems. Results indicated that children with representations of less optimal family relationships and children whose grandparents were less responsive to them at home were more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior problems. In addition, children were more likely to include relationship violence in their story stem enactments when grandparents reported elevated depressive symptoms. Results suggest links among grandparent depression, quality of children's family relationships, and children's behavior problems in grandparent-headed households.

Parental Understanding of the Role of Trainees in the Ophthalmic Care of Their Children

To examine parental knowledge and expectations regarding the roles of trainees involved in their child's ophthalmic care. Prospective survey. Parents of 128 children attending outpatient pediatric ophthalmology clinics at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. A questionnaire was given prospectively to parents (and 1 custodial grandparent). They were asked to identify, using a checklist, the roles and responsibilities of medical students, residents, and fellows and to explore their expectations regarding trainee participation using a multiple choice questionnaire. Parental knowledge and expectations regarding the roles and participation of medical trainees in the ophthalmic care of their children as measured by survey questionnaire. Parental knowledge about the roles of trainees was very limited with one exception: more than 95% knew that medical students are learning to be doctors and most had a good knowledge of the medical student role. More than 76% wanted to be asked specifically if they would allow trainees involved in their child's care. Seventy-five percent were happy to have capable trainees involved, provided that the trainees discuss all decisions with the responsible staff doctor. Parents wanted health care providers to identify themselves by name (77%) and position (86%). Only 3% did not want trainees involved in any part of their child's care. Although parental knowledge regarding the relative roles of trainees is poor, parents generally are willing to have trainees involved in their child's medical and surgical care, provided they are adequately supervised and that the parent is aware of their participation.

Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren: A Review of the Literature and Suggestions for Practice

An increasingly prevalent family constellation is a home headed by a grandparent who is raising grandchildren. We explore the state of our knowledge about such grandparents with particular attention to its implications for service providers and researchers. In our review we address several key areas: (a) the costs and benefits of raising a grandchild; (b) the heterogeneity of custodial grandparent caregivers; (c) the critical need for social support among custodial grandparents; (d) parenting practices and attitudes among grandparents raising grandchildren; and (e) helping efforts at multiple levels with custodial grandparents. We also discuss directions for research and practice concerning custodial grandparents.

Perceptions of the Losses Experienced by Custodial Grandmothers

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence societal perceptions of grandparents who have become custodians of their grandchildren. Over 1200 adult volunteers evaluated a randomly assigned scenario describing a grandparent raising a grandchild, where scenarios varied in terms of grandchild gender, grandparent ethnicity, the presence/absence of grandchild problems, and the reason for the assumption of the grandparent caregiving role. Subjects rated scenarios according to the extent to which they thought the custodial grandparent was experiencing a variety of losses. Overall, perceptions of loss were greater for grandmothers whose grandchild was experiencing an emotional/ behavioral problem, and for those grandmothers whose grandchild had been abandoned or abused, or whose adult child had died, been incarcerated, or abused drugs. Due to an interaction between ethnicity and reason for role assumption, however, those findings are best interpreted in the context of the ethnicity of the grandparent. Depending on the context, respondents were less sensitive to losses suffered by Hispanic, African American, or Caucasian grandmothers. These data suggest that ethnicity of the grandparent and reason for assuming the custodial role affect the degree to which people are sensitive to the losses that custodial grandparents experience. These differences are likely to affect the extent to which others publicly acknowledge the grief of custodial grandparents. Moreover, ethnic stereotypes may interfere with an equitable allocation of social support for, and services to, grandparent caregivers. In this light, researchers should continue to study these disparities, as they are likely to affect the adjustment of grandparents to the custodial role.

Custodial Grandparent Families: Steps for Developing Responsive Health Care Systems

Grandparent-headed families represent an ever-increasing population in our culture, necessitating that health care practitioners become more aware of the special needs of both caregiving grandparents and their grandchildren. The authors discuss concerns of custodial grandparents, grandparented children, and steps for developing responsive health care systems.

Grandparent-Headed Families in the United States

Grandparents are returning to the role of parents in ever-increasing numbers. Custodial grandparents often find themselves isolated from sources of support as they face unique emotional, physical, and financial challenges on a daily basis. Nearly half are grandparents without partners and the majority are caring for two or more young children. Children in the care of grandparents are more likely to experience cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. Their early traumatic experiences may lead to difficulties in communication and forming attachments. The Parent Topics Questionnaire is a standardized assessment measure designed to provide parent education group facilitators with specific information about needs, desires, and expectations of participants. Administration of this instrument to four parent groups revealed a high readiness for information among the custodial grandparent population. Based on information obtained from this measure, a holistic program was developed which simultaneously provided services to care-giving grandparents, their young grandchildren, and educational professionals. Grandparent and grandchildren's groups met weekly and emphasized topics and activities aimed at meeting common needs within these populations. Educational professionals participated in a series of inservice meetings aimed at increasing awareness of needs and strengths of grandparent-headed families, modifying curriculum to more effectively meet grandchildren's needs, and enhancing knowledge of existing resources. Pre- and post-test analysis demonstrate significant positive effects for all involved populations. Grandparents were found to increase in parenting knowledge, perceived levels of social support, willingness to utilize existing resources, and enjoyment of time with their grandchildren. Levels of isolation and perceived depression were decreased. Participating grandchildren demonstrated increased abilities to interact effectively with peers and adults and perceived their interactions with grandparents more positively. Educational professionals reported feeling more informed about custodial grandparent family issues, more confident about interacting with grandparents, and more knowledgeable about existing resources.

Custodial Grandparents Community Support Program: Lessons Learned

This article discusses a holistic pilot program that was developed to deliver services to custodial grandparents, grandchildren, and school personnel. A primary purpose of this three-pronged approach was to determine whether a systems approach could improve program effectiveness. Three grandparent and three grandchildren educational support groups met weekly for eight consecutive weeks in both rural and urban locations. School personnel participated in a series of in-service meetings focused on providing information about custodial grandparent families, recognizing common strengths and challenges, and enhancing communication. During and after completion of the program, observations and preliminary data analysis showed positive social and participation benefits for both grandparents and grandchildren.

Second time around parenting: factors predictive of grandparents becoming caregivers for their grandchildren.

More than one in ten American grandparents raise a grandchild for at least six months, with most of these providing care for three years or more. This longitudinal study, utilizing data from the National Survey of Families and Households, identifies the pre-existing personal characteristics and contextual variables which are predictive of individuals becoming primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Contrary to hypothesis, pre-caregiving attitudes concerning intergenerational solidarity bore little relationship to the likelihood of becoming a caregiver. In contrast, being female, younger, African American, and having not completed high school were significantly predictive of becoming a custodial grandparent. Implications of these findings for research, practice, and policy in gerontology, mental health, and related areas are discussed.