Differential Impact of an Intervention for Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

Resilience Profiles Among Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in the United States: White and Black Differences

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Grandparents raising grandchildren face many challenges and stress regardless of race and ethnicity; however, they are generally resilient. The present study aims to classify resilience profiles of these grandfamilies using a person-centered approach and examine the association of race and ethnicity with these profiles.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The present study analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected from grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States (N = 287). A latent profile analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Latent profile analysis identified 2 distinct latent profiles: (a) Profile 1: high interpersonal support but low spirituality and family confidence, and (b) Profile 2: low interpersonal support but high spirituality and family confidence. Results indicated that Black grandfamilies were more likely to be in Profile 2 compared to their White counterparts.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

This suggests the importance of recognizing grandfamilies' different resilience profiles, particularly between Black and White grandfamilies, to develop and implement tailored interventions that leverage their resilience to overcome challenges and stress.

Needs of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Qualitative Study

This study identified custodial grandparents' perception of sources of stress that may affect their health and better understand their needs. Findings from this qualitative study are based on thematic analysis of interviews with 10 custodial grandparents. The following themes emerged: 1) grandparents' stress from perceived lack of readiness to care for grandchildren; 2) need for effective communication between and among family members; 3) sufficiency of financial and legal resources; 4) access to community resources, and 5) raising grandchildren reenergizes and revitalizes grandparents' physical and mental health. These findings provide insight into the stressful aspects of the role of raising grandchildren. Understanding stressors affecting custodial grandparents and their grandchildren will help school nurses, social workers, teachers, school administrators and other professionals collaborate to address their challenges.

Evaluation of Prevention Programs for Grandparent Caregivers: a Systematic Review

This systematic review critically evaluates 21 grandparent-focused prevention programs designed to benefit grandparent caregivers or target grandparent caregivers as agents of change for grandchild development. These grandparent programs were published in 35 peer-reviewed articles in the last 31 years. For each program, we described the phase of development of program (i.e., feasibility, pilot, and efficacy), delivery characteristics, and adaptations of existing evidence-based programs to meet the needs of grandparent caregivers in diverse sociocultural backgrounds. For programs tested under a controlled trial design, we evaluated core components and preliminary effects on targeted outcomes. Most studies targeted grandparents who served as primary or custodial caregivers in the USA, while limited studies targeted supplementary grandparent caregivers. Thirteen programs which were evaluated using pretest-posttest designs demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of the grandparent programs. Moreover, eight programs which were evaluated using randomized-controlled trials (RCTs; 5 pilot and 3 full-scale efficacy trials) demonstrated promising outcomes. Additionally, we identified six core components and 17 specific elements in eight programs evaluated using RCT designs. Overall, we provide a comprehensive critique of this body of literature as well as directions for future studies, including the need to develop programing tailored to grandparent caregivers with unique needs.