This study used the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment, and adaptation as the framework to examine the main and moderating effects of social support and resourcefulness in the relationship between family life stresses and strain and depressive symptoms in grandmothers raising grandchildren, grandmothers in multigenerational homes, and noncaregivers to grandchildren. A sample of 486 Ohio grandmothers, recruited using random and supplemental convenience methods, completed mailed surveys. Analysis of variance was used to examine differences in family life stresses and strain, resourcefulness, support, and depressive symptoms across the three groups of grandmothers. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether family stresses and strains affected the grandmother's depressive symptoms and whether social support and resourcefulness moderated the relationship between family stresses and strain and grandmothers' mental health. Grandmothers raising grandchildren reported more depressive symptoms, but in multiple regression analyses of the full sample that controlled for demo-graphics, primary caregiving status was not related to depressive symptoms. More strain and less subjective support and resourcefulness were associated with higher depressive symptoms for all grandmothers, with 33% to 54% explained variances of such symptoms for each caregiving group and the full sample. Subjective support moderated the effects of strain and instrumental support moderated the effects of family life stresses on depressive symptoms. Social support and resourcefulness may help protect grandmothers from the effects of family stresses and strain, and interventions to enhance these factors may assist grandmother caregivers to achieve better mental health.

Recommendations for research and for practice, especially during times of caregiving transition or for grandmothers raising grandchildren, are discussed.

No abstract

Over one million American grandmothers raise grandchildren, and many experience stress that adversely affects their mental health. Teaching resourcefulness skills can minimize that stress. However, before testing the effectiveness of Resourcefulness Training (RT), its fidelity must be established. This pilot intervention trial examined fidelity of two methods of RT: expressive writing (i.e., journaling) and verbal disclosure (i.e., voice recording) using a quasi-experimental design with random assignment of 80 grandmothers to RT-expressive writing, RT-verbal disclosure, expressive writing alone, or verbal disclosure alone. Quantitative data (Resourcefulness Scale) and qualitative data (journals. voice recordings) were collected. Grandmothers with RT showed greater resourcefulness over time that those without RT, with similar effects for RT-expressive writing and RT-verbal disclosure. Evidence for use of RT skills was found in journals and recordings. The findings provide evidence of the implementation fidelity of RT with expressive writing or verbal disclosure and support moving forward to test RT effectiveness in reducing grandmothers’ stress and promoting their mental health.

Little information exists about the daily lives of women who are grandmothers, and the differences in daily stresses based on caregiving status to grandchildren. This content analysis examines the stresses of 64 grandmothers as grouped by caregiver status (grandmothers raising grandchildren, grandmothers living in multigeneration homes, non-caregivers to grandchildren) as recorded in three-week diaries. The nature of salient issues and stressful interactions differed by caregiver groups. Grandmothers raising grandchildren reported more stresses related to grandchildren's routines, activities, and school progress, more time pressure, and difficult interactions with grandchildren. The diary entries of grandmothers in multigenerational homes reflected their supplemental role in childcare, and sometimes stressful interactions with other family members. Grandmothers with no routine caregiving to grandchildren reported more involvement with those outside the immediate family. Many general concerns about the well-being of the family represent commonalities in grandmothers despite differences in current caregiving roles to grandchildren.