KELLEY Susan J., WHITLEY Deborah M., CAMPOS Peter E.
Journal article citation:
Children and Youth Services Review, 33(11), November 2011, pp.2138-2145.
Publisher:
Elsevier
Drawing on McCubbin's resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation, this study examines behaviour problems in children being raised by grandmothers and the factors in their current environment that are related to child behaviour problems. The sample comprised of 230 children ages 2 to 16 years. The families were predominantly low income and African American. Grandmothers responded to several self-report measures pertaining to child behaviour problems, family resources, social support, and caregiver psychological distress. Trained research assistants completed a standardized observational measure of the home environment. Results indicated that 31.3% of child participants scored in the clinically elevated range for total behaviour problems, with 21.3% and 32.6% scoring in the elevated range for internalizing and externalizing behaviours, respectively. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that of the variables examined, increased psychological distress in grandmothers was most predictive of child behaviour problems, followed by less supportive home environments and fewer family resources. Results of the present study underscore the need for interventions that focus on reducing child behaviour problems, as well as enhancing the parenting skills of grandmothers raising grandchildren. Findings also support the need for strategies to reduce stress in grandmother caregivers and to improve access to resources needed to provide supportive home environments for their grandchildren.
Drawing on McCubbin's resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation, this study examines behaviour problems in children being raised by grandmothers and the factors in their current environment that are related to child behaviour problems. The sample comprised of 230 children ages 2 to 16 years. The families were predominantly low income and African American. Grandmothers responded to several self-report measures pertaining to child behaviour problems, family resources, social support, and caregiver psychological distress. Trained research assistants completed a standardized observational measure of the home environment. Results indicated that 31.3% of child participants scored in the clinically elevated range for total behaviour problems, with 21.3% and 32.6% scoring in the elevated range for internalizing and externalizing behaviours, respectively. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that of the variables examined, increased psychological distress in grandmothers was most predictive of child behaviour problems, followed by less supportive home environments and fewer family resources. Results of the present study underscore the need for interventions that focus on reducing child behaviour problems, as well as enhancing the parenting skills of grandmothers raising grandchildren. Findings also support the need for strategies to reduce stress in grandmother caregivers and to improve access to resources needed to provide supportive home environments for their grandchildren.
Subject terms:
kinship care, stress, behaviour problems, grandparents;
N'ZI Amanda M., STEVENS Monica L., EYBERG Shelia M.
Journal article citation:
Child Abuse and Neglect, 55, 2016, pp.81-91.
Publisher:
Elsevier
This pilot study used a randomised controlled trial design to examine the feasibility and explore initial outcomes of a twice weekly, 8-session Child Directed Interaction Training (CDIT) program for children living in kinship care. Participants included 14 grandmothers and great-grandmothers with their 2- to 7-year-old children randomised either to CDIT or a waitlist control condition. Training was delivered at a local, community library with high fidelity to the training protocol. There was no attrition in either condition. After training, kinship caregivers in the CDIT condition demonstrated more positive relationships with their children during behavioural observation. The caregivers in the CDIT condition also reported clinically and statistically significant decreases in parenting stress and caregiver depression, as well as fewer externalizing child behaviour problems than waitlist controls. Parent daily report measures indicated significant changes in disciplining that included greater use of limit-setting and less use of critical verbal force. Results appeared stable at 3-month follow-up. Changes in child internalizing behaviours and caregiver use of non-critical verbal force were not seen until 3-month follow-up. Results of this pilot study suggest both the feasibility of conducting full scale randomized clinical trials of CDIT in the community and the promise of this approach for providing effective parent training for kinship caregivers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This pilot study used a randomised controlled trial design to examine the feasibility and explore initial outcomes of a twice weekly, 8-session Child Directed Interaction Training (CDIT) program for children living in kinship care. Participants included 14 grandmothers and great-grandmothers with their 2- to 7-year-old children randomised either to CDIT or a waitlist control condition. Training was delivered at a local, community library with high fidelity to the training protocol. There was no attrition in either condition. After training, kinship caregivers in the CDIT condition demonstrated more positive relationships with their children during behavioural observation. The caregivers in the CDIT condition also reported clinically and statistically significant decreases in parenting stress and caregiver depression, as well as fewer externalizing child behaviour problems than waitlist controls. Parent daily report measures indicated significant changes in disciplining that included greater use of limit-setting and less use of critical verbal force. Results appeared stable at 3-month follow-up. Changes in child internalizing behaviours and caregiver use of non-critical verbal force were not seen until 3-month follow-up. Results of this pilot study suggest both the feasibility of conducting full scale randomized clinical trials of CDIT in the community and the promise of this approach for providing effective parent training for kinship caregivers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), April 2012, pp.648-654.
Publisher:
Elsevier
This article considers the wellbeing of grandparents who are solely responsible for the care of their grandchildren. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate changes in grandmothers' and grandchildren's well-being over a 9 year period. Specifically, the study examined the closeness in the grandmother-grandchild relationship and the grandchild’s behaviour problems as predictors
This article considers the wellbeing of grandparents who are solely responsible for the care of their grandchildren. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate changes in grandmothers' and grandchildren's well-being over a 9 year period. Specifically, the study examined the closeness in the grandmother-grandchild relationship and the grandchild’s behaviour problems as predictors of grandmother and grandchild wellbeing. The sample consists of 50 grandmothers previously studied in an earlier study in 1998–1999 when raising school-aged grandchildren. These grandmothers were interviewed again in 2008. The findings showed that relationships at time 1 with their grandchildren and their adult children (the parents) impacted gains in life satisfaction later, but not mental health. Change in the grandchildren's behaviour was predicted by their grandmothers' mental health 9 years earlier. Furthermore, development of greater closeness in the grandmother–grandchild relationship was associated with improvement in the grandmother's mental health and grandchild's behaviour over the 9 years. These results demonstrate that: quality of relationships during school years is important for the grandmother's evaluation of her life well into the future; the quality of the grandmother–grandchild relationship is central for the well-being of both; and fostering the grandmothers' mental health early-on could contribute to her grandchild's well-being as a young adult.
Subject terms:
intergenerational relationships, kinship care, longitudinal studies, mental health problems, behaviour problems, family relations, grandparents;
Families in Society, 91(4), October 2010, pp.371-377.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
... parent–adolescent communication and adolescent engagement in risk behaviour, but this relationship is weaker for adolescents who report strong relationships with nonparental adults. This suggests that the existence of supportive relationships with nonparental adults, such as grandparents, in the lives of adolescents somehow buffers the negative impact of poor parent-adolescent communication. These findings inform
Studies have demonstrated a significant relationship between parent-adolescent communication and adolescent risk behaviour. Studies have also suggested that relationships with nonparental adults may serve as a positive influence in an adolescent’s life. This study tests the hypothesis that nonparental adults serve as a buffer for adolescents by examining the moderating role of nonparental adults in the relationship between parent–adolescent communication and adolescent risk behaviour. Data for this study came from adolescent questionnaire responses collected in 2005 from a larger study, Communication Between Parents and Adolescents (COPA), which explored parental monitoring strategies and adolescent risk behaviour. The results confirm the buffering hypothesis; there is a significant relationship between parent–adolescent communication and adolescent engagement in risk behaviour, but this relationship is weaker for adolescents who report strong relationships with nonparental adults. This suggests that the existence of supportive relationships with nonparental adults, such as grandparents, in the lives of adolescents somehow buffers the negative impact of poor parent-adolescent communication. These findings inform social work practice with adolescents, families, and communities by suggesting the importance of encouraging the development of relationships between youth and nonparental adults.
Attachment and Human Development, 10(2), June 2008, pp.165-168.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Children's representations of family relationships were examined in relation to grandparent responsivity and depression, family sociodemographic risks, and children's behaviour 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 behaviour 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 behaviour problems in grandparent-headed households.
Children's representations of family relationships were examined in relation to grandparent responsivity and depression, family sociodemographic risks, and children's behaviour 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 behaviour 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 behaviour problems in grandparent-headed households.
Subject terms:
kinship care, risk, attachment, behaviour problems, children, family relations, grandparents;
International Journal of Social Welfare, 17(4), October 2008, pp.333-345.
Publisher:
Wiley
This study explores relationships between the psychological health of grandparents raising grandchildren and grandchildren's social, emotional and behavioural issues. Fifty-two grandparents raising grandchildren (Caregiving) and an age-matched sample (N = 45) of grandparents who were not the primary caregivers of their grandchildren (Non-caregiving) participated in the study. All participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale Questionnaire (DASS21), and grandparents in the caregiving group completed the Caregiver form of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and a semi-structured telephone interview. Grandparents in the Caregiving group scored higher on all three DASS21 subscales than the Non-caregiving group. Statistically significant associations were found between grandparents' DASS21 scores and grandchildren's SDQ scores. Qualitative analyses of interviews were conducted describing a priori themes of conflict, challenges and rewards, and emergent themes of no choice/option, duty and pride. Clinical implications of this study point to the importance of providing increased levels of psychological support for grandparents and grandchildren. Longitudinal
This study explores relationships between the psychological health of grandparents raising grandchildren and grandchildren's social, emotional and behavioural issues. Fifty-two grandparents raising grandchildren (Caregiving) and an age-matched sample (N = 45) of grandparents who were not the primary caregivers of their grandchildren (Non-caregiving) participated in the study. All participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale Questionnaire (DASS21), and grandparents in the caregiving group completed the Caregiver form of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and a semi-structured telephone interview. Grandparents in the Caregiving group scored higher on all three DASS21 subscales than the Non-caregiving group. Statistically significant associations were found between grandparents' DASS21 scores and grandchildren's SDQ scores. Qualitative analyses of interviews were conducted describing a priori themes of conflict, challenges and rewards, and emergent themes of no choice/option, duty and pride. Clinical implications of this study point to the importance of providing increased levels of psychological support for grandparents and grandchildren. Longitudinal studies are needed.
Subject terms:
kinship care, stress, behaviour problems, children, depression, grandparents;