GRANDMOTHER CAREGIVER REACTIONS TO Caring for High-Risk Grandchildren "I could write a book!"

Abstract

During the past decade there has been an increase in the prevalence of grandmothers raising their grandchildren because of parental drug use and child neglect and maltreatment in the United States. A study was designed and conducted to examine the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver physical health for grandmothers raising their high-risk grandchildren. The sample consisted of 104 grandmothers. The findings indicated that caregiver physical health correlated strongly with level of burden and financial status. Further analysis suggests physical health variables had an observable impact on caregiver burden. Because this study indicates, from descriptive and correlational statistics, that the well-being of the grandmother and grandchild are both linked to the grandmother's physical health, there are numerous nursing interventions that may support a positive outcome for both. The provision of emotional and psychosocial support, coupled with health education and periodic health evaluations, are known to improve a grandmother's perception of her own health. Nurses can use the measures of caregiver burden to develop care plans targeting the health issues most likely to improve a grandmother's functional ability to remain the primary caregiver for a high-risk grandchild.

A Study on Grandmothers' Subjectivity regarding Grandchild Care: an Application of Q-methodology

“…) 덧붙여 경비가 저렴하게 들기 때문이다 (Kim, 2007;Kim & Jeong;Rho, 2010 (Dowdell & Sherwen, 1998;Dowdell, 2005;Kwon, 2000), 그 결과 심 각한 양육스트레스를 경험하고 결국 조모의 삶의 질을 저 하시키기도 한다 (Lee & Yun, 2011;Oh, 2007). …”

The Health of Rural Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

“…In some studies, marital status is a factor that has been predictive of worse physical and mental health in grandparent caregivers (Blustein, Chan, & Guanais, 2004;Dowdell, 2005). Custodial grandparents who are unmarried are more likely to report poorer health (Dowdell, 2005), depressive symptomatology (Blustein et al, 2004) and stress (Musil, Youngblut, Ahn, & Curry, 2002) than their married counterparts.…”

“…Financial strain is another significant contributor to stress for the custodial grandparent (Bullock, 2004;Dowdell, 2005;Waldrop & Weber, 2001). Custodial grandparents frequently receive little assistance in caring for a grandchild (Bullock, 2004), either because they are unaware of how to navigate the social services system, lack custody status (Gerard et al, 2006), or a reluctance to accept "welfare" assistance.…”

“…Custodial grandparents who are unmarried are more likely to report poorer health (Dowdell, 2005), depressive symptomatology (Blustein et al, 2004) and stress (Musil, Youngblut, Ahn, & Curry, 2002) than their married counterparts. Other situational variables included in custodial grandparent studies are the effects of relationships with the birth parents and grandchildren, change in the grandparents' roles, and the reasons they have custody (Butler & Zakari, 2005;Dellman-Jenkins, Blankemeyer, & Olesh, 2002;Goodman & Silverstein, 2002;Grinstead et al, 2003;Hayslip & Kaminski, 2005;Linsk et al, 2009;Musil et al, 2009;Trail Ross & Aday, 2006).…”

“…Custodial grandparents face many stressors when raising grandchildren such as financial concerns (Bullock, 2004;Dowdell, 2005;Kelley et al, 2000;Waldrop & Weber, 2001), custody and legal issues (Kropf & Kolomer, 2004;Waldrop & Weber, 2001), emotional or behavioral problems of the children (Kropf & Kolomer, 2004;Leder et al, 2007), and their relationship with the children's parents (Bullock, 2004;Leder et al, 2007;Waldrop & Weber, 2001). Many researchers have described a high degree of stress for most custodial grandparents and the health effects of the stress (Baker & Silverstein, 2008;Bullock, 2004;Burton, 1992;Butler & Zakari, 2005;Dowdell, 2004;Kelley et al, 2000;Kropf & Kolomer, 2004;Leder et al, 2007;Musil, 1998;Musil & Ahmad, 2002;Musil et al, 2009;Trail Ross & Aday, 2006;Waldrop & Weber, 2001).…”