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Journal of Family Psychology : JFP :... Dec 2023The present study aimed to identify intergenerational patterns of attachment insecurity among grandmothers, adolescent grandchildren, and birth mothers in custodial... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The present study aimed to identify intergenerational patterns of attachment insecurity among grandmothers, adolescent grandchildren, and birth mothers in custodial grandfamilies and to test the relations among triadic attachment patterns and grandchild socioemotional outcomes. Prior research with custodial grandfamilies has found distinct "profiles" reflecting patterns of closeness between grandmothers, grandchildren, and birth mothers. However, no studies have tested patterns of among members of the triad, despite the likelihood of attachment disruption in grandfamilies. Moreover, previous studies have only examined links between profile and grandmother outcomes or rudimentary grandchild outcomes. In a sample of 230 grandmother-grandchild dyads from a larger randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of an online social intelligence training program for grandfamilies, latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify profiles of intergenerational attachment insecurity, using grandmother and grandchild reports. Profile differences in grandchild internalizing and externalizing problems, social skills, self-esteem, and prosocial behavior were examined. We identified three profiles: isolated mother, grandchild-linked, and disconnected. Overall, grandchildren in disconnected families (in which attachment insecurity between all three members of the triad was high) fared worst. Grandchildren in isolated mother families (in which only grandmother-grandchild attachment insecurity was low) fared best. A secure attachment relationship between grandmother and adolescent grandchild may buffer effects of attachment insecurity between the grandchild and birth mother. These findings inform intervention efforts and highlight the utility of family- and attachment-focused research for building understanding of custodial grandfamilies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Female; Adolescent; Humans; Intergenerational Relations; Grandparents; Mothers; Social Skills
PubMed: 37824255
DOI: 10.1037/fam0001150 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023This study examined the associations of grandparent-grandchild relational closeness and conflict with grandchildren's socioemotional and behavioral problems, including...
This study examined the associations of grandparent-grandchild relational closeness and conflict with grandchildren's socioemotional and behavioral problems, including emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors. We analyzed primary cross-sectional survey data collected from custodial grandparents in the United States using logistic regression models. The results indicated that grandparent-grandchild relational closeness was significantly associated with lower odds of custodial grandchildren having emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors, whereas grandparent-grandchild relational conflict was significantly associated with higher odds of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors. Implications for increasing grandparent-grandchild relational closeness and decreasing relational conflicts among grandparent-headed families are discussed, which might improve grandchildren's socioemotional and behavioral well-being.
PubMed: 37892286
DOI: 10.3390/children10101623 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023With the rising of fertility cost and the implementation of the "universal three-child" policy, the model of intergenerational support for grandchild is becoming an...
BACKGROUND
With the rising of fertility cost and the implementation of the "universal three-child" policy, the model of intergenerational support for grandchild is becoming an inevitable choice for more and more families in China. As the number of grandchildren increases and the interval between births extends, will the grandchild care intention and grandparents' health be affected?
METHODS
Based on the data of China Family Panel Studies from 2018 and 2020, this study used multiple linear regression and multiple mediation tests to investigate the effect of grandchild care intention and intergenerational support on the health of older adults.
RESULTS
Firstly, actively taking care of grandchild has increased the self-rated health and mental health of older adults by 11.8 and 10.7%, respectively. Secondly, there is heterogeneity in the effect of intergenerational support from adults on health in their parents, among them, economic support improves the physical health by 5.5%; life care increases the self-rated and physical health by 3.3 and 0.8% respectively; emotional comfort improves the physical and mental health by 2.5 and 2.9%, respectively. Thirdly, grandchild care intention has a mediating effect on the health of older adults through economic support, life care, and emotional comfort.
CONCLUSION
The grandchild care intention has positive effect on the health of older adults. The intergenerational supports (economic support, emotional comfort, and life care) have heterogeneous effects on the health of older adults, such as economic support mainly affects the physical health. Older adults who actively take care of their grandchild are more likely to gain intergenerational support and feedback from their adult children, transforming intergenerational support into a "win-win" model of resource reciprocity between generations. Based on this, it is necessary to re-establish the value identity of "caring for older adults" and "raising grandchildren" at the cultural level, continuously improve the fertility support policies at the government level and establish "caring for older adults" support platform at the social level.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Intention; Family; Parents; China; Emotions
PubMed: 37693722
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1186798 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Although studies have researched the mental effects of intergenerational care, little is known about the impact of transformations in caregiving intensity on depression....
OBJECTIVES
Although studies have researched the mental effects of intergenerational care, little is known about the impact of transformations in caregiving intensity on depression. This study explores grand-parents' depressive symptom outcomes in terms of changes over time in grandparental childcare, with considerations for subgroup differences.
METHOD
Using data from the 2015-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study on grandparents aged 45 and older, we adopted generalized estimating equations to estimate the effects of seven category changes [(1) continued to provide high-intensity or (2) low-intensity care at both waves; (3) never provided care; (4) started caregiving; (5) ended caregiving; (6) provided less intensive care; and (7) provided more intensive care] over time in grandparental childcare on depressive symptoms among 17,701 grandparents with at least one grandchild, as well as how the impact varies by gender and urban/rural areas.
RESULTS
Grandparents who decreased the intensity of care, stopped childcare, or offered continuous low-intensity care were associated with a lower level of depression compared with those providing no childcare. In addition, the benefit of continuous caregiving on mental health was especially noticeable in urban grandmothers.
CONCLUSION
Providing continuous low-intensity, decreased-intensity grandparenting and the cessation of caregiving were associated with a decreased level of depression for Chinese grandparents; however, there were complex interactions at play. Policies aimed at supporting grandparenting should consider caregiving intensity transitions relevant to gender and urban/rural residence.
Topics: Humans; Asian People; Depression; East Asian People; Grandparents; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Child Care
PubMed: 37601176
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1217998 -
BMC Geriatrics Oct 2023The practice of grandparenting has been growing in popularity worldwide, particularly in Asian societies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of thorough studies investigating...
BACKGROUND
The practice of grandparenting has been growing in popularity worldwide, particularly in Asian societies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of thorough studies investigating the mental health effects of grandchild care on grandparents, particularly within the family context. The present study aimed to explore the impact of grandparenting on depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults, taking into account the functional role of intergenerational support.
METHODS
Using the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS, 2014 and 2018, N = 9,486), we employed the Pooled Ordinary Least Square method (POLS) to explore the association between depressive symptoms and grandparenting intensity as well as include the interaction terms to investigate the role of intergenerational support among grandparents aged from 60 to 80.
RESULTS
After adjusting for control variables, both non-intensive (-0.17; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.03) and intensive (-0.69; 95% CI: -0.95, -0.43) childcare, as well as giving financial support to adult children (-0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.04) and emotional closeness with them (-0.94; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.72), were found to have a positive impact on the mental health of grandparents. Giving financial support (non-intensive: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07, -0.01; intensive: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.13, -0.01) and providing instrumental support to adult children (non-intensive: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.24, -0.01; intensive: -0.19, 95% CI: -0.37, -0.02) moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults, regardless of care intensity. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support (-0.07; 95% CI: -0.12, -0.02) only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided.
CONCLUSION
Grandchild care predicted better mental health in grandparents, mainly when they engaged in intensive grandparenting. Emotional closeness and providing financial support to adult children brought mental health benefits to grandparents involved in childcare. Giving financial support and providing instrumental support to adult children moderated the association between grandparenting and the mental health of older adults. However, the moderating role of receiving financial support from adult children only existed when non-intensive childcare was provided.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Aged; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Mental Health; Grandparents; East Asian People; Child Care; Intergenerational Relations
PubMed: 37833646
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04396-x -
Prevention Science : the Official... Jan 2024This systematic review critically evaluates 21 grandparent-focused prevention programs designed to benefit grandparent caregivers or target grandparent caregivers as... (Review)
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.
Topics: Humans; Grandparents; Caregivers; Family
PubMed: 37837520
DOI: 10.1007/s11121-023-01594-2 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Prior studies showed mixed results of the association between grandchild care and grandparents' health. This research focused on the mechanisms behind the above link by...
OBJECTIVE
Prior studies showed mixed results of the association between grandchild care and grandparents' health. This research focused on the mechanisms behind the above link by studying how internet use served as a mediator through which grandchild care has impacted grandparents' health. The study aimed to draw implications to improve health of grandparents who offer care to grandchildren.
METHODS
Using a sample of 16,829 grandparents aged 50 through 80 from the 2018 wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the study relied on the KHB method to conduct the analysis. Grandparental health was measured by self-rated health (SRH), instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), life satisfaction and depression.
RESULTS
Overall, grandchild care had a positive effect on grandparental health. Those who engaged in grandchild care were more likely to use internet. In addition, internet use mediated the ways in which grandchild care impacted grandparents' health. Interne use generally promoted the positive influence of grandparental caregiving on grandparents' health. Specifically, the mediating effects of watching videos and chatting through the internet were most pronounced among urban grandmothers. The mediating effects of watching news were most noticeable among both urban grandmothers and grandfathers.
CONCLUSION
Internet use served as a mediator in the association between grandchild child care and grandparental health. Promoting internet usage may be an effective way reducing the negative impact of grandchild care on grandparents' mental health. It could also increase the positive effect of caregiving on grandparents' SRH and functional independence. The study also underscored the importance of taking rural-urban context and gender role into consideration when studying intergenerational caregiving and Chinese grandparents' health.
Topics: Humans; Grandparents; Internet Use; Longitudinal Studies; Family; Internet
PubMed: 37621608
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196234 -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Jun 2023To derive general formulas for calculating commonly used kinship index (KI).
OBJECTIVES
To derive general formulas for calculating commonly used kinship index (KI).
METHODS
By introducing the Kronecker symbol, the formulas used to calculate the same KI under different genotype combinations were summarized into a unified expression.
RESULTS
The general formulas were successfully derived for KI in various case situations, including the paternity index, full sibling index, half sibling index, avuncular index, grandpaternity index, first-cousin index, and second-cousin index between two individuals without or with the mother being involved; grandpaternity index between grandparents and a grandchild without or with the mother being involved; half sibling index between two children with two mothers being involved; full sibling index among three children; and half sibling index among three children with no, one, or two mothers being involved.
CONCLUSIONS
The general formulas given in this study simplify the calculation of KIs and facilitate fast and accurate calculation through programming.
Topics: Female; Child; Humans; Paternity; Siblings; Genotype; Mothers; Models, Genetic
PubMed: 37517016
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2023.530104 -
European Review of Aging and Physical... Oct 2023Evidence on the factors influencing physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in middle-aged and older adults taking care of their grandchild(ren) is limited,...
BACKGROUND
Evidence on the factors influencing physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in middle-aged and older adults taking care of their grandchild(ren) is limited, even though this knowledge seems imperative when considering the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchild(ren) as well as the rising popularity of intergenerational interventions targeting these energy-expenditure related behaviors. Therefore, this explorative qualitative study aimed to identify the determinants of PA and SB levels among Flemish caregiving grandparents in the presence of their grandchild(ren) aged between 0-5 years.
METHODS
Six online focus group discussions were conducted via Microsoft Teams, all of which were audio- and videotaped with permission granted by the participating grandparents. In total, nine caregiving grandfathers and 28 caregiving grandmothers (overall mean age = 60.9 ± 4.1y) participated in this study. An inductive content analysis approach was used to derive subcategories, categories and themes from the verbatim transcribed data using NVivo R1.
RESULTS
Caregiving grandparents' levels of PA and SB were both influenced by personal determinants (e.g., physical health, grandparental perceptions and responsibilities), interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as age-related physical/motor development and family interaction), and environmental determinants (e.g., weather and seasonal circumstances). PA levels of caregiving grandparents were further affected by additional personal determinants (e.g., age of the grandparent, planning and location) and interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as new experiences of the grandchild(ren)). Additionally, some personal determinants (e.g., perception of educational value) and interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as age-related cognitive development and health of the grandchild(ren)) were strictly mentioned to influence caregiving grandparents' SB.
CONCLUSIONS
Acknowledging the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchild(ren), the current study identified specific factors determining grandparents' PA and SB levels during the provision of grandchild care. Besides, it turned out of importance to take the interplay between the different determinants into account. Especially, for those grandparents with older grandchild(ren), within the studied 0-5 years age range, more attention should be paid to grandchild characteristics as part of the interpersonal determinants when setting up interventions to improve levels of PA and SB in caregiving grandparents.
PubMed: 37884872
DOI: 10.1186/s11556-023-00330-7 -
BMC Psychology Sep 2023Grandparents play a crucial role in providing their families with love, support, and wisdom, often also supporting them in practical and financial ways. The psychosocial...
Acute and long-term psychosocial consequences in grandparents when a grandchild is diagnosed with cancer - the GROKids Project: a population-based mixed-methods study protocol.
BACKGROUND
Grandparents play a crucial role in providing their families with love, support, and wisdom, often also supporting them in practical and financial ways. The psychosocial effects experienced by grandparents when a grandchild is diagnosed with an illness can be significant, including increased stress, anxiety, grief, and disruptions in their own lives. Yet, the experience of grandparents is often overlooked in the literature.
METHODS/DESIGN
The GROKids Project aims to investigate how grandparents are affected by a grandchild's cancer diagnosis. It employs a mixed-methods approach and consists of three studies: a longitudinal cohort study (Study 1) and a qualitative study (Study 2) involving grandparents of children with a recent cancer diagnosis, and a cross-sectional study (Study 3) of grandparents of childhood cancer survivors. Study 1 covers four time points over two years after the cancer diagnosis, while Study 2 explores the lived experiences of a subsample of these grandparents. Study 3 collects data from grandparents of childhood cancer survivors diagnosed 3 to 10 years ago. Participants are recruited across eight pediatric oncology centers in Switzerland, and through patient advocacy and support groups. Eligibility criteria include having a grandchild diagnosed with cancer and being fluent in German, French, or Italian. Study procedures involve requesting grandparents' contacts from eligible families, and later contacting grandparents, providing study information, obtaining informed consent, and sending out questionnaires by post or online. Reminder calls and mails are used to improve response rates. Data analysis includes multilevel regression (Study 1), thematic analysis (Study 2), and regression analyses (Study 3). Various validated questionnaires are used to assess physical health and overall well-being, psychological health, internal, and external factors.
DISCUSSION
This project addresses the gaps in understanding the psychosocial effects on grandparents having a grandchild diagnosed with cancer. It utilizes a comprehensive approach, including multiple methodologies and considering the broader family context. The project's strengths lie in its mixed-methods design, longitudinal approach, and inclusion of the perspectives of the sick children, siblings, and parents, besides grandparents. By gaining a more profound understanding of grandparents' experiences, researchers and healthcare professionals can develop targeted interventions and support services to address grandparents' unique needs.
Topics: Child; Humans; Grandparents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Longitudinal Studies; Neoplasms; Family
PubMed: 37723558
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01309-w