Grandparent Caregivers Research Articles

The situation and well-being of custodial grandparents in Myanmar: Impacts of adult children's cross-border and internal migration

Custodial care for grandchildren left behind by migrant parents is an important contribution made by grandparents for their families and societies, given rising migration flows and increasing prominence of skipped-generation households in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, little is known about the scope and consequences of custodial grandparenting in developing settings. Analyzing unique data from the 2017 Myanmar Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren Survey, this study examines the extent to which the middle generation's cross-border and internal migration are associated with caregiving intensity, perception towards grandchild care, and psychological well-being among grandparents. Results suggest limited negative impacts of the middle generation's migration on the situation and well-being of grandparent caregivers. Custodial grandparents, particularly those caring for children of cross-border migrant mothers, experience heightened caregiving responsibilities and perceived difficulties in grandchild care. Nevertheless, all else equal, the middle generation's migration is not significantly associated with grandparents' psychological well-being. Remittances from migrant children and care support from non-coresident family members are found to reduce grandparents' caregiving intensity, improve caregiving perception, and lower psychological distress. In sum, findings echo Myanmar's widespread norms of grandchild care provision by grandparents and underscore mutual interdependence across generations, as evidenced in the importance of remittances from migrant children and informal care support networks in determining the well-being of Myanmar grandparents. This study extends current theoretical perspectives that emphasize custodial grandparenting either as a response to family crises or as a household strategy to facilitate middle-generation migration. Instead, our evidence suggests that, when conceptualizing custodial grandparenting practices in developing settings, it is instructive to consider not only opportunities but also challenges and ambivalent situations associated with the middle generation's diverse migration patterns.

Depressive symptoms in the context of Chinese grandparents caring for grandchildren

Objectives This study examined the longitudinal association of depressive symptoms with grandchild care intensity and whether the association varies by household structure, residential area, and gender for Chinese grandparents. Methods Using data from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011–2015), we applied multilevel mixed effects models to examine changes in depressive symptoms and the associations with caregiving intensity and to test the moderation effects of residence, living arrangement, and gender. Results After controlling for sociodemographic and health covariates, we found that providing a medium level of grandchild care was associated with fewer baseline depressive symptoms compared with non-caregivers. Providing low-level care among those living with spouse/partner and among those living with child(ren)/others was associated with fewer depressive symptoms relative to non-caregivers with similar living arrangements. Conclusion Findings indicate that a medium level of involvement in childcare was associated with better mental wellness and low levels of caregiving may benefit nonresidential caregivers. More prospective longitudinal studies are needed to improve the operationalization of grandparent caregiving, validate the associated health outcomes, and apply a contextual approach to examine socioeconomic, cultural, and policy-related contexts of caregiving in the changing world of China.

Evaluating the Parenting of Caregiving Grandparents

Background and Purpose: In Philadelphia, over 15,000 grandparents are primary caregivers for grandchildren. Children raised by grandparents have increased risk for health and behavior issues. The SOWN Grandfamily Resource Center (GFRC) provides social services and parenting education for caregiving grandparents. This project investigates whether the annual Department of Human Services (DHS) Parenting pre- and post-survey measures parenting changes for grandparents participating in the GFRC. Methods: Selected DHS survey questions were grouped into subscales measuring social support and parenting practices. Associations between social support and parenting were examined, and average subscale scores and percentage of grandparents demonstrating positive beliefs and practices were compared between 16 matched pre- and post-surveys using paired t-tests and McNemar’s tests. Results: McNemar’s tests determined the changes from pre- to post-survey were not statistically significant, with p-values between .625 and 1. The change in mean score for nurturing behavior was statistically significant, . Social support had a moderate, statistically significant, positive association with all parenting measures. Conclusion: Participants averaged 4.1 years of GFRC participation and demonstrated high levels of initial knowledge and parenting practice, but not a significant change from pre to post. The positive association between social support and parenting practice is supported by research that a caregiver’s distress negatively impacts parenting. Social relevance: The parenting qualities included here can alleviate some of the health and behavior problems experienced by children exposed to trauma as well as reduce the parenting stress experienced by caregiving grandparents.

Grandchild Caregiving and Cognitive Health Among Grandparents in Rural South Africa.

Objectives: We investigate how caregiving for grandchildren is associated with cognitive function among rural South Africans, and whether the association differs by gender. We further investigate whether measures of physical activity or social engagement mediate this association. Methods: Data were from interviews with 3668 Black, South African grandparents in the "Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa" study, conducted between 2014 and 2015. Results: We find that caregiving grandparents have better cognitive function than non-caregiving grandparents, and this association does not differ by grandparent gender. Although grandchild caregiving is associated with physical activity and social engagement measures, and some of these measures are associated with cognitive function, we do not find conclusive evidence of mediation. Discussion: Providing care for grandchildren may stimulate cognitive function for both grandmothers and grandfathers. Neither physical activity nor social engagement explains the association between caregiving and cognitive function.

The Utility of Solution-Oriented Strategies to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention program to improve the health and social psychological outcomes for grandparents raising grandchildren using the theory of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M. M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1-34). Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511665684.003). Methods: Fifty-two grandparents were randomly assigned either to a 6-session solution-oriented goal-setting program or to a waiting list control condition who subsequently received the intervention. Results: Grandparents in the intervention group, in comparison to the waiting list control group, reduced their level of depression, improved their parental efficacy, overall psychosocial adjustment, and increased their ability to choose effective goals. For the most part, findings were replicated in the waiting list control analyses. Discussion: While these findings are consistent with previous studies using psychosocial interventions with parents and grandparent caregivers, they also provide support for strength-based proactive behavioral approaches to improve the quality of life of grandparent caregivers.

“Stepping in the Gap to Make Family”: Care Calculation and Grandparent Caregiving in Detroit, Michigan

AbstractScholars have long recognized the role that older Black American women play in providing care for their own grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even non‐kin, arguing that kinship and caregiving relationships have been shaped by historical and structural factors. In this article, I consider intensive grandchild caregiving among Black American grandparents, primarily grandmothers, living in Detroit, Michigan. I highlight how the decision and process of providing care involves a “care calculation” where grandmothers evaluate their decision to caregive against existing financial, emotional, and bodily resources. In doing so, I argue that grandparent caregiving should be understood as a responsive and intentional process, where the decision to care for grandchildren and the performance of care work is more than simply responding to a set of certain circumstances and/or obligations based on biological kinship relations.

Under the Radar: Global Minimum Estimates for COVID-19-Associated Orphanhood and Deaths Among Caregivers During 2020

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic and response has focused on prevention, detection, and response. Beyond morbidity and mortality of those infected, pandemics carry secondary impacts, such as children orphaned or bereft of their caregivers. Such children often face adverse consequences, including poverty, abuse, delayed development, and institutionalization. We provide estimates for the magnitude of this problem resulting from COVID-19 and describe the need for resource allocation.Methods: We use mortality and fertility data to model rates of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver deaths for 18 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and extrapolate global estimates of COVID-associated deaths of parents and grandparent caregivers.Results: We estimate that globally, >1 million children were orphaned or lost a caregiver due to COVID-19-associated deaths during March–December 2020. Countries with higher rates of caregiver deaths included Peru, South Africa, Mexico, Russian Federation, Colombia, Brazil, Islamic Republic of Iran, Argentina, U.S.A., and Spain (range, 1·1–9·8/1000). For most countries, numbers of children orphaned were greater than deaths among those aged 15–44 years; 2–5 times more children had deceased fathers than deceased mothers.Conclusions: Orphanhood and caregiver deaths are a shadow pandemic resulting from COVID-19-associated deaths: we find that over one million children worldwide have lost a parent or caregiver in just ten months. Accelerating equitable vaccine delivery is key to prevention. Psychosocial and economic support can help families nurture children bereft of caregivers and promote their recovery. Strengthening family-based care can help ensure that institutionalization of these children is avoided. These data demonstrate the need for an additional pillar of our response: prevent, detect, respond, and care for children.Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Global Challenges Research Fund (GCR), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council), UK National Institute for Health Research, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Imperial College.Declaration of Interests: Dr. Donnelly reports grants from UK Medical Research Council and grants from NIHR during the conduct of the study. Dr. Cluver reports grants from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund, during the conduct of the study. All other authors report nothing to disclose.Ethics: We used modeled aggregate data and publicly available de-identified survey metadata.

“What If You Die?”: Skipped‐Generation Caregivers' Reported Conversations With Their Grandchildren About Death

ObjectiveThis study focused on grandparent caregivers' communication about death with their grandchildren.BackgroundSkipped‐generation grandfamilies have become more common in the United States. However, much research on death communication focuses on traditional parent–child(ren) nuclear families, making it necessary to understand how families with other structures, such as skipped‐generation grandfamilies, address this topic.MethodThis qualitative study applied communication privacy management as a guiding theory and used progressive focusing to collect 30 in‐depth interviews with grandparent caregivers. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes and eight subthemes emerged. The first theme centered on grandparent caregivers' motivations for disclosing about death to grandchildren and comprised three subthemes: Exposure to Death and Lifecycle Concepts, Grandchild Curiosity, and Unique Grandparent Caregiver Concerns. The second theme reflected grandparent caregivers' motivations to conceal information about death, which included Age Inappropriateness, Trauma Aversion, and Lack of Utility. The third theme captured grandparent caregivers' perceptions of whether their grandchildren were concerned about caregiver death.ConclusionLike traditional parent–child(ren) nuclear families, grandfamilies identify death as an important but challenging topic to discuss. However, the unique characteristics of grandfamilies magnify challenges and complexities of discussing death.ImplicationsThe findings contribute to communication specialists', social workers', and psychologists' understanding of how grandfamilies manage privacy surrounding death.

The impact of non-residential grandchild care on physical activity and sedentary behavior in people aged 50\u2009years and over: study protocol of the Healthy Grandparenting Project

BackgroundFinding effective ways to support people aged > 50 years to develop adequate levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior is necessary as these behaviors are positively related to the maintenance of functional independence and health-related quality of life. Given the widespread provision of grandparental child care, examining its impact on grandparents’ energy-expenditure related behavior in the broader context of health is imperative. Therefore, the Healthy Grandparenting Project will aim to investigate the levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior, body composition and health-related quality of life in grandparents caring for their grandchildren and to compare these outcomes with non-caregiving grandparents and older adults without grandchildren, both momentarily and over time. An additional purpose is to identify possible predictors of potential changes over time.MethodsA prospective cohort study will run over a period of 2 years, including three test occasions with a one-year time interval in between (T0 = baseline, T1 = 12 months, T2 = 24 months). A total of 276 participants will be recruited in Flanders through non-probability quota sampling (50–50% men-women), of which 92 caregiving grandparents, 92 non-caregiving grandparents and 92 non-grandparents. All three subsamples will be matched for age and sex. At each test occasion, anthropometric and body composition measurements will be determined. Participants’ levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior will be assessed both objectively and subjectively by means of accelerometry and self-report questionnaires. Information about their grandchildren and the provided grandparental care (if applicable) as well as their health-related quality of life will also be assessed using self-report questionnaires. Mixed modelling will be used to identify differences in physical activity, sedentary behavior, body composition and health-related quality of life between the subsamples at baseline, as well as to evaluate and compare changes in energy-expenditure related behavior over time between subsamples and to identify predictors of the detected changes.DiscussionThe Healthy Grandparenting Project is an innovative study examining the levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior in caregiving grandparents, non-caregiving grandparents and non-grandparents. Obtained results will help in the development of campaigns to maintain/improve health in adults at a more advanced age.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NTC04307589. Registered March 2020.

The Mental Health Well-Being of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if raising grandchildren is related to diminished mental health well-being in custodial grandparents compared to contemporaries who are not raising grandchildren. Relevant studies were identified via comprehensive literature searches of electronic databases. We included six studies in the meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to calculate effect sizes. The results of the meta-analysis yielded a statistically significant, small-to-moderate summary effect size (ES) indicating caregiving grandparents generally experience a larger degree of adverse mental health outcomes than their non-parenting counterparts. While previous studies have produced conflicting results regarding the mental health outcomes experienced by custodial grandparents, the present meta-analysis findings provide another level of evidence that substantiates their emotional vulnerability. Recommendations for subsequent research are discussed.

Key Components of Interventions for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Systematic Review

Increasingly grandparents provide primary or supplementary care for their grandchildren globally. In view of the challenges faced by grandparent caregivers, a number of intervention programs were designed to act as a buffer to the potential negative impacts on their well-beings. A recent meta-analysis (Chan et al., 2019) shows that interventions for grandparent caregivers have small to moderate effect sizes for increases in social support and parenting skills. However, little is known how the multi-component interventions work. The aim of this review is to categorize the key components of intervention programs and determine the direct effect of components on grandparent caregivers’ outcomes (i.e., physical, mental health and well-being). A component-level approach is adopted to disentangle the ‘active ingredients’ of the interventions. Peer-reviewed articles were searched via five electronic database (published before January 2020). A keyword search was performed based on combinations of two groups of terms: (1) grandparent caregivers and (2) intervention, training, and support group. Studies adopting an experimental or pre/post design and reporting quantitative changes in grandparents’ outcomes were included. Studies focusing on the special needs of grandchildren were excluded. Fourteen interventions were identified from over 20 included studies. Preliminary analyses show that different physical and mental outcomes of grandparent caregivers were predicted from key components of education, skills training, relaxation and psychosocial support. With the goal of developing evidence-based interventions for grandparents raising grandchildren, this synthesis offers insight into the mechanisms of an intervention, which informs its generalizability or applicability to a new context.

Relationship Quality With Adult Children Among Grandparent Caregivers

For the increasing number of grandparent caregivers, relationship quality with adult children has important implications for the well-being of grandparents. Based on solidarity, conflict, and ambivalence, the present study examines how parent-adult children's relationships differ by grandparent caregiving status on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. This study uses The 2014 Health and Retirement Study from a sample of 1,197 grandparent caregivers age 51 and older. Latent class analysis is applied to measure affection and conflict in older grandparents-adult children relationships. Results from the latent class analysis identified four clusters: amicable, ambivalent, detached, and disharmonious. OLS regression models are estimated the association between relationship types and depressive symptoms and psychological well-being by grandparent caregiving. For the depressive symptoms, disharmonious relationships with adult children increase depressive symptoms among co-parenting and custodial grandparents. Also, ambivalent and disharmonious relationships with adult children reduce the psychological well-being of older grandparents. The study discusses the variances of the relationships with adult children and their effects on grandparents’ well-being. The results will shed light on the importance of familial relationships and will be beneficial for the development and maintenance of policies and practices that support the families of grandparent caregivers.

Process-Outcome-Relationships and Solution-Based Interventions With Grandparent Caregivers

Grandparents raising grandchildren face many challenges such as isolation, stigma, negative thoughts, and biases from age peers and service providers. In contrast, recent work suggests a need to re-frame grandparent caregiving in positive terms. In this light, the present study explored the processes key to the success of a solution-focused intervention with such persons. Fifty-two grandparents caregivers participated in a six-session solution focused intervention, using the theoretical framework of Selection, Optimization and Compensation (SOC) by Baltes & Baltes (1990). Throughout the program the emphases were on goal setting, solution focused thinking and communication skills. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or waiting list control conditions. Within each session measures of hopefulness, positive thoughts about one’s grandchild, solution focused thinking, self-rated stress and perceived goal attainment were taken. Results indicated significant decreases in stress and increases over six sessions in hopefulness, positive thoughts about the grandchild, being solution-oriented and success in overcoming barriers interfering with goal setting and implementation (p<.05). Measures of goal accomplishment, strategy usage, success and satisfaction with effort were uniformly high. Such findings speak to key processes underlying the efficacy of a solution-focused intervention with grandparent caregivers. Measures of such processes also predicted outcome measures, e.g., resilience, positive affect, caregiver strain, well-being, loneliness, depression, parental efficacy and adequacy of service needs met. These findings reinforce the importance of understanding change processes as predictors of solution-focused intervention outcomes with grandparent caregivers and are consistent with the need to emphasize such persons’ strengths.

Grandparenting and the Receipt of Filial Piety From Adult Children in Chinese American Families

The current study explores the association between grandparent caregiving by Chinese American elders and their perceived receipt of filial support from their adult children, called filial piety (xiao). Many studies find a correlation between grandparent caregiving and filial behaviors from their adult children, which is notably higher among minority families, especially among Asians than among white families, stimulated by the norm of reciprocity, familism, and extended kinship. Drawing from the theory of intergenerational relationships, social exchange theory, and the role theory, this study questions whether a more active engagement in grandparenting renders higher levels of filial piety returns from adult children. It uses the PINE data, a survey on the wellbeing of Chinese American elders in Chicago. The results show that more hours of grandparent caregiving relate to higher returns of filial piety perceived by older parents. Correspondingly, though with a marginal significance, more pressures to take care of a grandchild from adult children reduce the elders’ perception of filial piety receipt. No interaction effect is found between the grandparenting hours and the pressure from adult children. Additionally, Chinese American elders possessing higher levels of education, mastery, and longer stays in the US perceive lower levels of filial piety receipt from adult children. Discussion will focus on how grandparent caregiving can be mutually beneficial and strengthen intergenerational relationships among Chinese American families.

The Impact of Custodial Grandparenting on Cognitive Performance in a Longitudinal Sample of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

There are currently 2.7 million grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States. As grandparent caregiving has become more prevalent, concerns have surfaced regarding the effect of additional caregiving responsibilities placed on an aging population. The following study uses an existing dataset of individuals who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957. The present study examined the impact of grandparenting on measures of cognition, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Findings from the cross-sectional analysis show that custodial grandparents outperformed their noncustodial grandparent counterparts on the cognitive tests of word recall, category fluency, letter fluency, and cognitive similarities. Findings from the longitudinal analysis show that though custodial grandparents had initially performed worse on the digit ordering task, their scores declined at a much slower rate than non-custodial grandparents. By using a cross-sectional and longitudinal research design, this study provides a unique opportunity to examine the impact of grandparenting on cognitive performance.

Gender and the Grandfather Caregiver Experience

In the United States, 2.7 million grandparents are responsible for a grandchild in their home. Grandfathers are present in the majority of grandparent caregiver households, but their contributions and voices are often overlooked. The aim of this study was to explore how grandfathers experience caregiving as men. Twelve grandfathers from the age of 50-76 years participated in the study. Two face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven grandfather caregivers while a telephone interview was conducted with one grandfather. Interviews focused on their life story, experiences as grandfather caregivers, and views on male caregiving. Data were analyzed using coding and thematic analysis. Gender was important throughout grandfather’s caregiving experiences. Grandfathers discussed their attitudes towards caregiving using language that reflected traditional gender norms. To them, women were nurturing caregivers while men were supposed to provide for their families as caregivers. Grandfathers appeared to stay connected to notions of traditional masculinities through participation in sports and physical play with their grandchildren and through their emphasis on men as responsible and providers. Grandfathers were aware that others may view them as incompetent caregivers, but they did not allow these stereotypes to affect how they viewed themselves as caregivers. These findings can improve the understanding of this population for service providers who work with grandparent caregivers. Providing better outreach for grandfather caregivers, strengthening programs and supports for them, and confronting attitudes or views towards male caregiving are important practice implications.

Exploring the Stress and Strengths Arising From the Complexities Existing Within Grandfamilies

The opioid crisis and other social problems continue to increase the number of grandparent-headed households in the U.S. There are challenges and benefits that result from grandparents parenting their grandchildren. Grandparents often report the joy in watching their grandchildren grow but also report on the complexities that may lead to stress. Two-hundred forty-one grandparents were recruited using Qualtrics’ Online Panel Service. In addition to a standardized perceived stress scale and demographic questions, participants responded to open-ended questions related to the benefits and challenges of residing within a grandparent-headed household. This presentation focuses on comparing demographics, perceived stress, benefits and challenges of 108 current grandparent caregivers to 133 grandparents who were no longer the head of household at the time of the survey. Grandparents who currently were raising their grandchildren had a higher perceived stress score (p=.03) compared to grandparents who had raised their grandchildren in the past. An exploration of the demographic variances and responses to the open-ended questions, will begin to explain this statistically significant difference in reported stress. An additional complexity arising for a subsample of 10 current grandparents raising grandchildren, included simultaneously caregiving for an older adult relative. It is imperative to study the complexities existing within grandfamilies, from the perspectives and experiences of the grandparent caregiver, and develop interventions to reduce stress and increase the grandparents’ ability to cope with situational, emotional and relationship changes.

Intergenerational Relationships in an Economically Vulnerable Community: Findings From the Flint Women’s Study

Older women in economically disadvantaged communities often balance a range of relationships that present both benefits and challenges. The current study describes older women’s perceptions of the benefits and challenges of maintaining intergenerational relationships with younger women and children in their community. We used secondary data from the Flint Women’s Study, a qualitative interview project that included 60-90 minute structured interviews with 100 women who either lived or worked in the Flint, Michigan metropolitan area. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using the belongingness theory framework. Special populations (including older women) were coded in the dataset. The main benefits of intergenerational relationships included feeling valued, social connection, and giving back to future generations. In particular, intergenerational relationships allowed older women in this economically disadvantaged community to leave behind a meaningful social legacy in the absence of a meaningful economic legacy. Despite the perceived benefits, older women had difficulty effectively forming intergenerational relationships. Many reported being naturally isolated from those of younger generations. For those who were not isolated, many cited challenges related to grandparent caregiving, which was often connected to workforce conflicts, financial burden, caring for multiple generations well into adulthood, managing grandchildren’s traumas, and a lack of technological proficiency needed to meet grandchildren’s educational needs. Participants described the impact of these challenges on older women who lived in disadvantaged communities. Future programming should consider the needs of older women in disadvantaged communities and provide resources to maximize the benefits and minimize the challenges of intergenerational relationships in this population.

Experiences and Implications on Family Relationships for Grandmothers Raising Their Grandchildren

In the U.S., over 2.7 million grandparents are primary caregivers to grandchildren. It is critical to understand the experiences of grandparent caregivers to design tailored, supportive programs. Our aim was to analyze written journals of 129 grandmothers with respect to the impact of raising grandchildren on relationships with family members. As part of a national RCT study of grandmother caregivers, participants completed daily journals for 4 weeks. Employing thematic data analysis, three members of the research team coded using NVIVO 12 Plus. The research team met regularly to compare and resolve discrepancies in coding. Percent agreement was > 80%. Relationships with the grandchild’s mother were characterized by anger/tension, resentment, and the realization that the mother was incapable of parenting while at the same time expressing worry/concern for her. Relationships with the grandchild’s father mirrored these dynamics while also depicting the father as a distant figure, inconsistent, and financially absent. Spousal relationships were marked by challenges faced by the spouse, their shared role/influence as a grandparent, and the quality of their time spent together. The other relationships described were often focused on their other adult children, as well as their own adult siblings. Grandmother caregivers expressed stress or strain and frustration within these relationships. Caregivers also verbalized gratitude for support from family members within the context of familial and financial stress. Grandmother caregivers may need support in managing familial relationships and stress within these relationships, which may be a target for future interventions.

Should I Do This? Factors Influencing the Decision to Raise Grandchildren Among Custodial Grandparents.

Grandparents often step in to raise grandchildren when the middle generation is unavailable or unwilling. Although the consequences of raising grandchildren are well researched, little is known about the factors influencing grandparents' decisions to raise grandchildren. The objectives of this study were to (a) explore the factors that influence decision-making processes among grandparent caregivers, and (b) investigate the extent to which these factors reflect a multifaceted, dualistic framework. Data were collected from 108 custodial grandparents who answered an open-ended question about their decision to raise grandchildren. Content analyses of participants' answers yielded 15 factorial dimensions defined in terms of their negative/push or positive/pull poles, as it related to their decision to raise grandchildren. Chi-squared tests were used to examine each dimension to the extent to which elicited frequencies were differentially represented for positive versus negative poles. For 12 dimensions, the negative decisional parameters outweighed those that were positive. Grandparents report both positive and negative parameters when reflecting on their decision to raise grandchildren. These results call for further research to advance the understanding of the decision-making processes that caregiving grandparents make and the role that they may have on their experiences.